“I am a soldier’s wife,” she said, “but my husband was sent to a distant station eight months ago, and I have heard nothing of him since. At first I got a place as cook, but when the baby came they said they could not do with it and dismissed me. That was three months ago, and I have got nothing since, and have spent all my savings. I tried to get taken as a nurse, but no one would have me, for they said I was too thin. I have just been to see a tradesman’s wife where our grandmother is in service. She had promised to take me on, and I quite thought that she would, but when I arrived to-day she told me to come again next week. She lives a long way from here, and I am quite worn out and have tired my baby for nothing. Thank Heaven, however, my landlady is good to me, and gives me shelter for Christ’s sake. Otherwise I should not have known how to bear it all.” Avdeitch sighed and said: “But have you nothing warm to wear?” “Ah, sir,” replied the woman, “although it is the time for warm clothes I had to pawn my last shawl yesterday for two _grivenki_.”[4] Footnote 4: The grivenka = 10 copecks = about five cents. Then the woman returned to the bedstead to take her baby, while Avdeitch rose and went to a cupboard. There he rummaged about, and presently returned with an old jacket. “Here,” he said. “It is a poor old thing, but it will serve to cover you.” The woman looked at the jacket, and then at the old man. Then she took the jacket and burst into tears. Avdeitch turned away, and went creeping under the bedstead, whence he extracted a box and pretended to rummage about in it for a few moments; after which he sat down again before the woman. Then the woman said to him: “I thank you in Christ’s name, good grandfather. Surely it was He Himself who sent me to your window. Otherwise I should have seen my baby perish with the cold. When I first came out the day was warm, but now it has begun to freeze. But He, Our Little Father, had placed you in your window, that you might see me in my bitter plight and have compassion upon me.” Avdeitch smiled and said: “He did indeed place me there: yet, my poor woman, it was for a special purpose that I was looking out.” Then he told his guest, the soldier’s wife, of his vision, and how he had heard a voice foretelling that to-day the Lord Himself would come to visit him. “That may very well be,” said the woman as she rose, took the jacket, and wrapped her baby in it. Then she saluted him once more and thanked him. “Also, take this in Christ’s name,” said Avdeitch, and gave her a two-_grivenka_ piece with which to buy herself a shawl. The woman crossed herself, and he likewise. Then he led her to the door and dismissed her.