Alexyei Sergyeitch died in his eighty-eighth year, in the year 1848, which evidently disturbed even him. And his death was rather strange. That morning he had felt well, although he no longer quitted his arm-chair at all. But suddenly he called to his wife: "Malaniushka, come hither!" "What dost thou want, Alexis?" "It is time for me to die, that's what, my darling." "God be with you, Alexyei Sergyeitch! Why so?" "This is why. In the first place, one must show moderation; and more than that; I was looking at my legs a little while ago ... they were strange legs--and that settles it!--I looked at my hands---and those were strange also! I looked at my belly--and the belly belonged to some one else!--Which signifies that I am devouring some other person's life.[45] Send for the priest; and in the meanwhile, lay me on my bed, from which I shall not rise again." Malanya Pavlovna was in utter consternation, but she put the old man to bed, and sent for the priest. Alexyei Sergyeitch made his confession, received the holy communion, took leave of the members of his household, and began to sink into a stupor. Malanya Pavlovna was sitting beside his bed. "Alexis!" she suddenly shrieked, "do not frighten me, do not close thy dear eyes! Hast thou any pain?" The old man looked at his wife.--"No, I have no pain ... but I find it ... rather difficult ... difficult to breathe." Then, after a brief pause:--"Malaniushka," he said, "now life has galloped past--but dost thou remember our wedding ... what a fine young couple we were?" "We were, my beauty, Alexis my incomparable one!" Again the old man remained silent for a space. "And shall we meet again in the other world, Malaniushka?" "I shall pray to God that we may, Alexis."--And the old woman burst into tears. "Come, don't cry, silly one; perchance the Lord God will make us young again there--and we shall again be a fine young pair!" "He will make us young, Alexis!" "Everything is possible to Him, to the Lord," remarked Alexyei Sergyeitch.--"He is a worker of wonders!--I presume He will make thee a clever woman also.... Come, my dear, I was jesting; give me thy hand to kiss." "And I will kiss thine." And the two old people kissed each other's hands. Alexyei Sergyeitch began to quiet down and sink into a comatose state. Malanya Pavlovna gazed at him with emotion, brushing the tears from her eyelashes with the tip of her finger. She sat thus for a couple of hours. "Has he fallen asleep?" asked in a whisper the old woman who knew how to pray so tastily, peering out from behind Irinarkh, who was standing as motionless as a pillar at the door, and staring intently at his dying master. "Yes," replied Malanya Pavlovna, also in a whisper. And suddenly Alexyei Sergyeitch opened his eyes. "My faithful companion," he stammered, "my respected spouse, I would like to bow myself to thy feet for all thy love and faithfulness--but how am I to rise? Let me at least sign thee with the cross."