Fetching breath, he added: "I suppose it won't
feel crowded there."
Vyesovshchikov laughed without taking offense, and shook his head.
"Well, my brain's not so empty now as it used to be. And you, Yegor
Ivanovich, still sick?"
"Each one does what he can. No one has a right to interfere with
him." Yegor evaded an answer; he coughed hoarsely. "Continue."
"Then I went to a public museum. I walked about there, looked
around, and kept thinking all the time: 'Where am I to go next?'
I even began to get angry with myself. Besides, I got dreadfully
hungry. I walked into the street and kept on trotting. I felt
very down in the mouth. And then I saw police officers looking at
everybody closely. 'Well,' thinks I to myself, 'with my face I'll
arrive at God's judgment seat pretty soon.' Suddenly Nilovna came
running opposite me. I turned about, and off I went after her.
That's all."
"And I didn't even see you," said the mother guiltily.
"The comrades are probably uneasy about me. They must be wondering
where I am," said Nikolay, scratching his head.
"Aren't you sorry for the officials? I guess they're uneasy, too,"
teased Yegor. He moved heavily on the sofa, and said seriously and
solicitously: "However, jokes aside, we must hide you--by no means
as easy as pleasant.
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