'Well, good-bye, Matrona!' said Alexandra Pavlovna, 'I will come and
see you again; and you must not lose heart but take your medicine
regularly.'

The old woman raised her head and drew herself a little towards
Alexandra Pavlovna.

'Give me your little hand, dear lady,' she muttered.

Alexandra Pavlovna did not give her hand; she bent over her and kissed
her on the forehead.

'Take care, now,' she said to the old man as she went out, 'and give
her the medicine without fail, as it is written down, and give her
some tea to drink.'

Again the old man made no reply, but only bowed.

Alexandra Pavlovna breathed more freely when she came out into the
fresh air. She put up her parasol and was about to start homewards,
when suddenly there appeared round the corner of a little hut a man
about thirty, driving a low racing droshky and wearing an old overcoat
of grey linen, and a foraging cap of the same. Catching sight of
Alexandra Pavlovna he at once stopped his horse and turned round
towards her. His broad and colourless face with its small light grey
eyes and almost white moustache seemed all in the same tone of colour
as his clothes.

'Good-morning!' he began, with a lazy smile; 'what are you doing
here, if I may ask?'