For outside cold,—sup quick! Don't look as we were bears!

What is it startles you? What strange adventure stares

Up at us in your face? You know friends—which is which?

I'm Vàssili, he's Sergeì, Ivàn Ivànovitch"—

At the word, the woman's eyes, slow-wandering till they neared

The blue eyes o'er the bush of honey-colored beard,

Took in full light and sense and—torn to rags, some dream

Which hid the naked truth—O loud and long the scream

She gave, as if all power of voice within her throat

Poured itself wild away to waste in one dread note!