nly burst into the room his sister jumped up with a
terrified, eager look. She had been sitting near the low window,
through whose curtained panes there hardly came a gleam of light. Some
needlework had been lying on her lap, but it had slipped down and lay
on the floor, and there was a [Pg 283] flushed, expectant look on her
face. Who was that?

"Oh, it's you." It sounded as if she were disappointed. She grew pale,
and her lids drooped wearily, but she forced herself to smile. "Good
morning, Mikolai."

"Good morning, sister mine." He took hold of her hands and gazed at
her. She seemed so tall--or had she looked like that for some time?
"Pretty girl," he said playfully, and pinched her cheek that felt like
velvet.

"Don't talk nonsense." She freed herself indignantly and her face
darkened. But when she noticed that he looked put out, she smiled a wan
smile, and whispered as she clung to him, "Don't be cross. I must be
preparing myself, you know, and such things are no longer for me."

"What rubbish, what nonsense." He grew seriously angry. "I've had
enough of these goings-on here. The old man drinks the whole day, you
pray the whole day, and there's not a bit of happiness in the house.
_Psia krew_, let the lightning----"

"Sh!" She laid her hand on his mouth soothingly. "You mustn't swear,
Mikolai," she begged softly, "it's sinful. Come, sit down."

She drew him with her to her chair near the window, the only seat in
the narrow room except the stool beside Marianna's bed. Her delicate
fingers forced him down and he squatted in front of her, whilst she put
her arms round his neck.

"When I shall no longer be with you--it won't be long now, only three,
four, five weeks more." She counted and then sighed, "No, still six."

"So you count like Becker," he interrupted her angrily. "You're longing
to get away like he is. Nice love and friendship that, I must say."

[Pg 284]

She had flushed when he mentioned his friend's name, and a restless
look had come into her eyes, but she soon grew calm again. She gazed at
her brother with eyes full of love as she said, "You'll miss me,
Mikolai, I know that very well. And I shall miss you too. But I'll pray
for you. Oh, dear"--her voice was very sad, and big tears began to
trickle down her cheeks--"I have to pray for so much, for so many." She
wrung her hands. "My life will not be long enough for it all."

"Oh, yes, for father," he said in a low voice, and his head drooped.