"The dogs howled at her."
"And that clatter! Perhaps that was just Death on her journey."
"It is clear that God did not favor the marriage, which would have been an injustice to the family."
Further whispering was stopped by the coming of Pani Vinnitski and Martsian.
Pani Vinnitski hurried through the chamber, she was in haste to bring a reliquary which warded off evil spirits; but Martsian they surrounded immediately.
"How is he?"
Martsian shrugged his shoulders, raised them till his head seemed to be in his bosom, and answered,--
"He is rattling yet."
"Is there no hope?"
"None."