r from
a shelf within reach, rubbing his temples with ice, applying himself the
fomentations to his stomach, changing them himself, &c. He suffered
less from pain than from an excessive feeling of depression. "_Ah! what
depression_!" he several times exclaimed, throwing his hands backward
above his head; "_it makes my heart die within me_!" He then begged them
to lift him up, or to turn him on his side, or to arrange his pillow;
and, without letting them finish to do so, would stop them generally
with the words--"_There! so, so--very well; so it is very well; well
enough; now it is quite right_;" or, "_Stop--never mind--only pull my
arm a little--so! now it is very well--excellent_!"--(these are all his
exact expressions.) "In general," says Dahl, "with respect to my
treatment, he was as manageable and obedient as a child, and did every
thing I wished." Once he inquired of Dahl, "_Who is with my wife?_" Dahl
answered, "Many good people feel a sympathy with you; the drawing-room
and the antechamber are full from morning to night." "_Oh, thank you_,"
he replied; "_only go and tell my wife that all is going on well, thank
God! or else they will talk all sorts of nonsense to her there, I
suppose._" Dahl did not deceive him. From the morning of the 28th, when
the news that Pushkin was dying had flown through the whole town, his
antechamber had been incessantly crowded with visitors; some enquiring
after him by messengers, others--and people of all conditions, whether
acquainted with him or not--coming themselves. The feeling of a
national, an universal affliction, was never more touchingly expressed
than by this proceeding. The number of visitors became at last so
immense, that the entrance-door (which was close to the study where the
dying man lay) was incessantly opening and shutting; this disturbed the
sufferer, and we imagined the expedient of closing that door, by placing
against it a chest from the hall, and instead of it opening another
little door which led from the stair-case into the pantry, and
partitioning off with screens the dining-room from the drawing-room,
where his wife was. From this moment, the pantry was unceasingly
thronged with people; none but acquaintances were admitted into the
dining-room. On the faces of all these visitors was expressed a most
heartfelt sympathy; very many of them wept. So strong a testimony of
general affliction touched me deeply. In Russians, to whom is so dear
their national glo