“We had plenty to eat.”
“Plenty, without a single hot dish, without dessert. I will send up some preserves.”
“No, no ... if you want anything, I can wake Mark and ask him.”
“Good heavens! I am in my night-jacket,” she whispered, and drew back to the door. “How he sleeps, all rolled up like a little dog. I am ashamed, Boris Pavlovich, as if we had no beds in the house. But put out the flames. No dessert!”
Raisky extinguished the blue flame and embraced the old lady. She made the sign of the Cross over him, looked round the room once more, and went out on tiptoe. Just as he was going to lie down again there was another tap on the door, he opened it immediately.
Marina entered, bearing a jar of preserves; then she brought a bed and two pillows. “The mistress sent them,” she said.
Raisky laughed heartily, and was almost moved to tears.