“Do you drink punch at night?” she whispered, looking first at him, then at the bowl in amazement. “I am a sinner, Grandmother. Sometimes I drink.” “And who is lying there asleep?” she asked in new terror as she gazed on the sleeping Mark. “Gently, Grandmother, don’t wake him. It is Mark.” “Mark! Shall I send for the police! What have you to do with him? You have been drinking punch at night with Mark? What has come over you, Boris Pavlovich?” “I found him at Leonti’s, we were both hungry. So I brought him here and we had supper.” “Why didn’t you call me. Who served you, and what did they bring you?” “Marina did everything.” “A cold meal. Ah, Borushka, you shame me.” “We had plenty to eat.” “Plenty, without a single hot dish, without dessert. I will send up some preserves.” “No, no ... if you want anything, I can wake Mark and ask him.” “Good heavens! I am in my night-jacket,” she whispered, and drew back to the door. “How he sleeps, all rolled up like a little dog. I am ashamed, Boris Pavlovich, as if we had no beds in the house. But put out the flames. No dessert!” Raisky extinguished the blue flame and embraced the old lady. She made the sign of the Cross over him, looked round the room once more, and went out on tiptoe. Just as he was going to lie down again there was another tap on the door, he opened it immediately. Marina entered, bearing a jar of preserves; then she brought a bed and two pillows. “The mistress sent them,” she said. Raisky laughed heartily, and was almost moved to tears. CHAPTER X Early in the morning a slight noise wakened Raisky, and he sat up to see Mark disappear through the window. He does not like the straight way, he thought, and stepped to the window. Mark was going through the park, and vanished under the thick trees on the top of the precipice. As he had no inclination to go to bed again, he put on a light overcoat and went down into the park too, thinking to bring Mark back, but he was already far below on the bank of the Volga. Raisky remained standing at the top of the precipice. The sun had not yet risen, but his rays were already gilding the hill tops, the dew covered fields were glistening in the distance, and the cool morning wind breathed freshness. The air grew rapidly warmer, giving promise of a hot day. Raisky walked on in the park, and the rain began to fall. The birds sang, as they darted in all directions seeking their morning meal, and the bees and the humble-bees hummed over the flowers. A feeling of discomfort came over Raisky. He had a long day before him, with the impressions of yesterday and the day before still strong upon him. He looked down on the unchanging prospect of smiling nature, the woods and the melancholy Volga, and felt the caress of the same cooling breeze. He went forward over the courtyard, taking no notice of the greetings of the servants or the friendly advances of the dogs.