And I'll lose the great
pleasure of chattering with a good person. I think that in the next
world there aren't such good people as here."
The mother uneasily interrupted him.
"The lady will come, and she'll scold me because you talk."
"She's no lady. She's a revolutionist, the daughter of a village
scribe, a teacher. She is sure to scold you anyhow, granny. She
scolds everybody always." And, slowly moving his lips with an
effort, Yegor began to relate the life history of his neighbor.
His eyes smiled. The mother saw that he was bantering her purposely.
As she regarded his face, covered with a moist blueness, she thought
distressfully that he was near to death.
Liudmila entered, and carefully closing the door after her, said,
turning to Vlasova:
"Your friend ought to change his clothes without fail, and leave here
as soon as possible. So go at once; get him some clothes, and bring
them here. I'm sorry Sofya's not here. Hiding people is her specialty."
"She's coming to-morrow," remarked Vlasova, throwing her shawl over
her shoulders. Every time she was given a commission the strong
desire seized her to accomplish it promptly and well, and she was
unable to think of anything but the task before her.
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