"Of course,--of course she did; how could she have failed to do so? She charged me to give you her love, and she called to me from her carriage for the express purpose; she patted my little Radionek's cheeks."
"And did she have any of her children with her?"
"No, not one."
And this exchange of question and answer would have continued endlessly had not the widow been struck with the expression of anxiety and grief upon her neighbour's face.
"But what is the matter with you? Are you sick, old man?" said she.
"Ah! you are right," answered Iermola, sighing and seating himself on the bench; "I have another great trouble."
"Well, well! tell me about it. We will see what can be done."
"Ah! this will be a difficult matter to remedy. My youngster, who is obstinate and impetuous as any crazy young thing, has seen the glazed pottery at the fair; and now he has taken it into his head to manufacture some of it, and I cannot possibly make him give up the idea."
"Well, did I not tell you so?"
"What did you tell me?"