He divined that she was studying
by herself in secret, understood her bashfulness, and ceased to
invite her to read with him. Shortly afterwards she said to him:
"My eyes are getting weak, Andriusha. I guess I need glasses."
"All right! Next Sunday I'll take you to a physician in the city,
a friend of mine, and you shall have glasses!"
She, had already been three times in the prison to ask for a meeting
with Pavel, and each time the general of the gendarmes, a gray old
man with purple cheeks and a huge nose, turned her gently away.
"In about a week, little mother, not before! A week from now we
shall see, but at present it's impossible!"
He was a round, well-fed creature, and somehow reminded her of a
ripe plum, somewhat spoiled by too long keeping, and already covered
with a downy mold. He kept constantly picking his small, white teeth
with a sharp yellow toothpick. There was a little smile in his
small greenish eyes, and his voice had a friendly, caressing sound.
"Polite!" said the mother to the Little Russian with a thoughtful air.
"Always with a smile on him. I don't think it's right. When a man
is tending to affairs like these, I don't think he ought to grin.
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