be no more for Novgorod, Ivan Vassilievitch;
and Novgorod will never rise again! It may live on awhile like
lighted flax, that neither flameth nor goeth out, even as I live in a
dungeon!'

"'It is thine inflexible obstinacy that hath ruined both of ye. I
should like to have seen how thou wouldst have acted in my place.'

"'Thou hast done thy work, Great Prince of Moscow, I--mine. Triumph
not over me, in my dungeon, at my last hour.'

"Marpha Boretzkaia coughed, and her face grew livid; she applied the
end of her veil to her lips, but it was instantly stained with blood,
and Ivan remarked this, though she endeavoured to conceal it.

"'I am sorry for thee, Marpha,' said the Great Prince in a
compassionate tone.

"'Sharp is thy glance.... What! doth it delight thee?... Spread this
kerchief over Novgorod.... 'Twill be a rich pall!'... she added with
a smile.

"'Let me in! let me in!... I cannot bear it.... Let me go in to her!'
cried Andriousha, bursting into tears.

"On the Great Prince's countenance was mingled compassion and
vexation. He, however, lifted the latch of the door, and let the son
of Aristotle pass in to Boretzkaia.

"Andrea kissed her hand. Boretzkaia uttered not a word; she
mournfully shook her head, and her warm tears fell upon the boy's
face.

"'Ask him how many years she can live,' said the Great Prince to
Aristotle, in a whisper.

"'It is much, much, if she live three months; but, perhaps, 'twill be
only till spring,' answered Antony. 'No medicine can save her: that
blood is a sure herald of death.'

"This reply was translated to Ivan Vassilievitch in as low a tone as
possible, that Boretzkaia might not hear it; but she waved her hand,
and said calmly--'I knew it long ago'....

"'Hearken, Marpha Isakovna, if thou wilt, I will give thee thy
liberty, and send thee into another town.'

"'Another town ... another place ... God hath willed it so, without
thee!'

"'I would send thee to Bayjetzkoi-Verkh.'

"''Tis true, that was our country. If I could but die in my native
land!'

"'Then God be with thee: there thou mayst say thy prayers, give alms
to the churches; I will order thy treasury to be delivered up to
thee--and remember not the Great Prince of Moscow in anger.'

"She smiled. Have you ever seen something resembling a smile on the
jaws of a human skull?

"'Farewell, we shall never meet again