. The compassionate young man
was greatly moved, and if a tear did not escape from Michael's eyes, it
was because the red-hot iron had dried up the last!

"She is very pretty," said Nicholas.

"Yes," replied Michael.

"They try to be strong, little father, they are brave, but they are weak
after all, these dear little things! Have you come from far."

"Very far."

"Poor young people! It must have hurt you very much when they burnt your
eyes!"

"Very much," answered Michael, turning towards Nicholas as if he could
see him.

"Did you not weep?"

"Yes."

"I should have wept too. To think that one could never again see
those one loves. But they can see you, however; that's perhaps some
consolation!"

"Yes, perhaps. Tell me, my friend," continued Michael, "have you never
seen me anywhere before?"

"You, little father? No, never."

"The sound of your voice is not unknown to me."

"Why!" returned Nicholas, smiling, "he knows the sound of my voice!
Perhaps you ask me that to find out where I come from. I come from
Kolyvan."

"From Kolyvan?" repeated Michael. "Then it was there I met you; you were
in the telegraph office?"

"That may be," replied Nicholas. "I was stationed there. I was the clerk
in charge of the messages."

"And you stayed at your post up to the last moment?"

"Why, it's at that moment one ought to be there!"

"It was the day when an Englishman and a Frenchman were disputing,
roubles in hand, for the place at your wicket, and the Englishman
telegraphed some poetry."

"That is possible, but I do not remember it."

"What! you do not remember it?"

"I never read the dispatches I send. My duty being to forget them, the
shortest way is not to know them."

This reply showed Nicholas Pigassof's character. In the meanwhile the
kibitka pursued its way, at a pace which Michael longed to render
more rapid. But Nicholas and his horse were accustomed to a pace which
neither of them would like to alter. The horse went for two hours and
rested one--so on, day and night. During the halts the horse grazed,
the travelers ate in company with the faithful Serko. The kibitka was
provisioned for at least twenty persons, and Nicholas generously placed
his supplies at the disposal of his two guests, whom he believed to be
brother and sister.

After a day's rest, Nadia recovered some strength. Nicholas took the
best possible care of her. The journey was being made under tolerable
circumstances, slowly c