I gave her the apples I had brought, and Valek, breaking the loaf in two, gave her a piece and handed the rest to the Professor. That unhappy man of learning accepted the gift indifferently, and began munching without tearing himself away from his occupation. I shivered and moved uneasily, stifled, as it were, by the oppressive “stare” of those grey stones.
“Come! Come away from here——” I insisted, plucking at Valek’s sleeve. “Take her away!”
“Come, Marusia, let’s go upstairs,” Valek called to his sister.
And the three of us climbed up out of the crypt, but even out of doors I felt a sense of restlessness and strain. Valek was sadder and more silent than usual.
“Did you stay in town to buy that bread?” I asked.
“To buy it?” laughed Valek. “Where would I find the money?”
“How did you get it then? Did you ask for it?”
“Yes, that’s likely! Who would give it to me? No, brother, I nabbed it from Sarah the Jewess’ bread-tray at the bazaar. She didn’t see me.”
He said this in a matter-of-fact voice, sprawling on the grass with his hands under his head. I raised myself on my elbow and stared at him.
“So you stole it?”