An unusual day arrived.

It was mother's birthday.

Guests were expected in the evening; military music was to play, and in the garden and upon the terrace parti-coloured lanterns were to burn, and Yura need not go to bed at 9 o'clock but could stay up as late as he liked.
Yura got up when all were still sleeping.

He dressed himself and jumped out quickly with the expectation of miracles.

But he was unpleasantly surprised--the rooms were in the same disorder as usual in the morning; the cook and the chambermaid were still sleeping and the door was closed with a hook--it was hard to believe that the people would stir and commence to run about, and that the rooms would assume a holiday appearance, and he feared for the fate of the festival.