rew near and took his hand, on which her quivering lips could
scarcely press a silent kiss.

[Footnote A: That is to say, no longer speaking of her as if she were
still a servant.]

"Well, noble lady,"[A] he said at last,--"Good-day to you; let's go to
my wife's room."

[Footnote A: Literally "thrashed-while-damp noblewoman," _i.e._,
hastily ennobled. Much corn is thrashed in Russia before it has had
time to get dry.]

He rose and bent over Fedia; the babe smiled and stretched out its
tiny white hands towards him. The old man was touched.

"Ah, my orphaned one!" he said. "You have successfully pleaded your
father's cause. I will not desert you, little bird."

As soon as Malania Sergievna entered Anna Pavlovna's bed-room, she
fell on her knees near the door. Anna Pavlovna, having made her a sign
to come to her bedside, embraced her, and blessed her child. Then,
turning towards her husband a face worn by cruel suffering, she would
have spoken to him, but he prevented her.

"I know, I know what you want to ask," he said; "don't worry yourself.
She shall remain with us, and for her sake I will forgive Vanka."[A]

[Footnote A: A diminutive of Ivan, somewhat expressive of contempt
Vanya is the affectionate form.]

Anna Pavlovna succeeded by a great effort in getting hold of her
husband's hand and pressing it to her lips. That same evening she
died.

Peter Andreich kept his word. He let his son know that out of respect
to his mother's last moments, and for the sake of the little Fedor, he
gave him back his blessing, and would keep Malania Sergievna in his
house. A couple of small rooms up-stairs were accordingly given to
Malania, and he presented her to his most important acquaintances,
the one-eyed Brigadier Skurekhine and his wife. He also placed two
maid-servants at her disposal, and a page to run her errands.

After Marfa Timofeevna had left her--who had conceived a perfect
hatred for Glafira, and had quarrelled with her three times in the
course of a single day--the poor woman at first found her position
difficult and painful. But after a time she attained endurance, and
grew accustomed to her father-in-law. He, on his part, grew accustomed
to her, and became fond of her, though he scarcely ever spoke to her,
although in his caresses themselves a certain involuntary contempt
showed itself. But it was her sister-in-law who made Malania suffer
the most. Even during her mother's lifetime, Glafira had gradually