-sided pyramid, with one little window.

"But still, Mr. Lichonin, just you present the passport to-morrow
without fail," said the superintendent insistently at parting. "Since
you're a respectable man, hard-working, and you and I are long
acquainted, also you pay punctually, I am willing to do it only for
you. You know yourself what hard times these are. If some one tells on
me, they'll not only fire me, but they can put me out of town as well.
They're strict now."

In the evening Lichonin strolled with Liubka through Prince Park,
listened to the music playing in the aristocratic club, and returned
home early. He escorted Liubka to the door of her room and at once took
leave of her; kissing her, however, tenderly on the brow, like a
father. But after ten minutes, when he was already lying in bed
undressed and reading the statutes of state, Liubka, having scratched
on his door like a cat, suddenly entered his room.

"Darling, sweetie! Excuse me for troubling you. Haven't you a needle
and thread? But don't get angry at me; I'll go away at once."

"Liuba! I beg of you to go away not at once, but this second. Finally,
I demand it!"

"My dearie, my pretty," Liubka began to intone laughably and piteously,
"well, what are you yelling at me for all the time?" and, in a moment,
having blown upon the candle, she nestled up to him in the darkness,
laughing and crying.

"No, Liuba, this must not be. It's impossible to go on like this,"
Lichonin was saying ten minutes later, standing at the door, wrapped up
in his blanket, like a Spanish hidalgo in a cape. "To-morrow at the
latest I'll rent a room for you in another house. And, in general,
don't let this occur! God be with you, and good night! Still, you must
give me your word of honour that our relations will be merely friendly."

"I give it, dearie, I give it, I give it, I give it!" she began to
prattle, smiling; and quickly smacked him first on the lips and then on
his hand.

The last action was altogether instinctive; and, perhaps, unexpected
even to Liubka herself. Never yet in her life had she kissed any man's
hand, save a priest's. Perhaps she wanted to express through this her
gratitude to Lichonin, and a prostration before him as before a higher
being.

CHAPTER XV.

Among Russian intelligents, as has already been noted by many, there is
a decent quantity of wonderful people; true children of the Russian
land and culture, who would be able heroically, w