somewhat frightened manner, as though fearing lest they might
seize and choke her. Evidently, the noisy life of the big
commercial town did not interest this silent woman, and whenever
she went out driving with her husband, her eyes were fixed on the
back of the driver. When her husband took her visiting she went
and behaved there just as queerly as at home; when guests came to
her house, she zealously served them refreshments, taking no
interest whatever in what was said, and showing preference toward
none. Only Mayakin, a witty, droll man, at times called forth on
her face a smile, as vague as a shadow. He used to say of her:

"It's a tree--not a woman! But life is like an inextinguishable
wood-pile, and every one of us blazes up sometimes. She, too,
will take fire; wait, give her time. Then we shall see how she
will bloom."

"Eh!" Ignat used to say to her jestingly. "What are you thinking
about? Are you homesick? Brighten up a bit!"

She would remain silent, calmly looking at him.

"You go entirely too often to the church. You should wait. You
have plenty of time to pray for your sins. Commit the sins first.
You know, if you don't sin you don't repent; if you don't repent,
you don't work out your salvation. You better sin while you are
young. Shall we go out for a drive?"

"I don't feel like going out."

He used to sit down beside her and embrace her. She was cold,