With inaudible steps she went quickly to the sick man's bedside, and going up so that he had not to turn his head, she immediately clasped in her fresh young hand the skeleton of his huge hand, pressed it, and began speaking with that soft eagerness, sympathetic and not jarring, which is peculiar to women.

"We have met, though we were not acquainted, at Soden," she said.

"You never thought I was to be your sister?" "You would not have recognized me?" he said, with a radiant smile at her entrance.

"Yes, I should.

What a good thing you let us know! Not a day has passed that Kostya has not mentioned you, and been anxious.