Now, lowering
her brows with an air of preoccupation, she asked zealously:
"How should we dress him, do you think?"
"It's all the same. It's night, you know."
"At night it's worse. There are less people on the street, and the
police spy around more; and, you know, he's rather awkward."
Yegor laughed hoarsely.
"You're a young girl yet, granny."
"May I visit you in the hospital?"
He nodded his head, coughing. Liudmila glanced at the mother with
her dark eyes and suggested:
"Do you want to take turns with me in attending him? Yes? Very
well. And now go quickly."
She vigorously seized Vlasova by the hand, with perfect good nature,
however, and led her out of the door.
"You mustn't be offended," she said softly, "because I dismiss you so
abruptly. I know it's rude; but it's harmful for him to speak, and
I still have hopes of his recovery." She pressed her hands together
until the bones cracked. Her eyelids drooped wearily over her eyes.
The explanation disturbed the mother. She murmured:
"Don't talk that way. The idea! Who thought of rudeness? I'm
going; good-by."
"Look out for the spies!" whispered the woman.
"I know," the mother answered with some pride.
Pages:
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403