A low sob was the only answer, "Oh, I am frightened. Mother! Mother!"
The moon now showed distinctly a little clearing in the wood. At the edge of it lay a woman's figure stretched out at full length. The wide-open eyes stared fixedly at the sky; no breath moved the rags which covered her breast; from under her wretched dress projected the lean way-worn feet. Near her lay a wallet. A little living creature clung to the motionless body and tried to raise it.
"What are you doing there?" asked the old man in a hoarse voice.
"Oh, I am so frightened, so frightened!" sobbed the child. A little ragged girl lifted her pale face to the convict, and then, seized with alarm, tried to hide herself again in her mother's clothing. Ivan touched the woman's ice-cold forehead.
"What is your name?" he asked.
"Anjuta," whispered the child without letting go of the body.
"Have you been here long?"
"I do not know. Oh, I am so frightened!"
"Was the sun still high when your mother fell down?"
"Yes, Grandfather."