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princess, conscious that Agafea Mihalovna's wrath must be chiefly directed against her, as the person responsible for the raspberry jam-making, tried to appear to be absorbed in other things and not interested in the jam, talked of other matters, but cast stealthy glances in the direction of the stove. "I always buy my maids' dresses myself, of some cheap material," the princess said, continuing the previous conversation. "Isn't it time to skim it, my dear?" she added, addressing Agafea Mihalovna. "There's not the slightest need for you to do it, and it's hot for you," she said, stopping Kitty. "I'll do it," said Dolly, and getting up, she carefully passed the spoon over the frothing sugar, and from time to time shook off the clinging jam from the spoon by knocking it on a plate that was covered with yellow-red scum and blood-colored syrup. "How they'll enjoy this at tea-time!" she thought of her children, remembering how she herself as a child had wondered how it was the grown-up people did not eat what was best of all--the scum of the jam. "Stiva says it's much better to give money." Dolly took up meanwhile the weighty subject under discussion, what presents should be made to servants. "But..." "Money's out of the question!" the princess and Kitty exclaimed with one voice. "They appreciate a present..." "Well, last year, for instance, I bought our Matrona Semyenovna, not a poplin, but something of that sort," said the princess. "I remember she was wearing it on your nameday." "A charming pattern--so simple and refined,--I should have liked it myself, if she hadn't had it. Something like Varenka's. So pretty and inexpensive." "Well, now I think it's done," said Dolly, dropping the syrup from the spoon.