once," the woman answered without opening the door. The
mother waited a moment, and knocked again. This time the door opened
quickly, and a tall woman wearing glasses stepped out into the hall,
rapidly tidying the ruffled sleeves of her waist. She asked the mother
harshly:

"What do you want?"

"I'm from Yegor Ivanovich."

"Aha! Come! Oh, yes, I know you!" the woman exclaimed in a low voice.
"How do you do? It's dark here."

Nilovna looked at her and remembered that this woman had come to
Nikolay's home on rare occasions.

"All comrades!" flashed through her mind.

The woman compelled Nilovna to walk in front.

"Is he feeling bad?"

"Yes; he's lying down. He asked you to bring something to eat."

"Well, he doesn't need anything to eat."

When they walked into Yegor's room they were met by the words:

"I'm preparing to join my forefathers, my friend. Liudmila Vasilyevna,
this man walked away from prison without the permission of the
authorities--a bit of shameless audacity. Before all, feed him, then
hide him somewhere for a day or two."

The woman nodded her head and looked carefully at the sick man's face.

"Stop your chattering, Yegor," she said sternly. "You know it's bad
for you. You ought to have sent for me at once, as soon as they came.
And I see you didn't take your medicine. What do you mean by such
negligence? You yourself say it's easier for you to breathe after a
dose. Comrade, come to my place. They'll soon call for Yegor from the
hospital."

"So I'm to go to the hospital, after all?" asked Yegor, puckering up
his face.

"Yes, I'll be there with you."

"There, too?"

"Hush!"

As she talked she adjusted the blanket on Yegor's breast, looked
fixedly at Nikolay, and with her eyes measured the quantity of medicine
in the bottle. She spoke evenly, not loud, but in a resonant voice.
Her movements were easy, her face was pale, with large blue circles
around her eyes. Her black eyebrows almost met at the bridge of the
nose, deepening the setting of her dark, stern eyes. Her face did not
please the mother; it seemed haughty in its sternness and immobility,
and her eyes were rayless. She always spoke in a tone of command.

"We are going away," she continued. "I'll return soon. Give Yegor a
tablespoon of this medicine."

"Very well," said the mother.

"And don't let him speak." She walked away, taking Nikolay with her.

"Admirable woman!" said Yegor with a sigh. "Ma