Against the wall stood a broad black sofa, a round table, and about the table chairs also black. This corner had a mournful, sinister aspect. A tall, white-faced woman with eyes like a sheep's entered the room, and asked in a low singing voice: "Shall I serve supper?" "Bring it in, Rayisa Petrovna." "A new boy?" "Yes, new. His name is Yevsey." The woman walked out. "Close the door," ordered the old man. Yevsey obeyed, and he continued in a lower voice. "She is the landlady. I rent the rooms from her with dinner and supper. You understand?" "I understand." "But you have one master--me. You understand?" "Yes." "That is to say, you must listen only to me. Open the door, and go into the kitchen and wash yourself." The master's voice echoed drily in the boy's bosom, causing his alarmed heart to palpitate. The old man, it seemed to Yevsey, was hiding something dangerous behind his words, something of which he himself was afraid. While washing in the kitchen he surreptitiously tried to look at the mistress of the apartment. The woman was preparing the supper noiselessly but briskly. As she arranged plates, knives, and bread on an ample tray her large round face seemed kind. Her smoothly combed dark hair; her unwinking eyes with thin lashes, and her broad nose made the boy think, "She looks to be a gentle person." Noticing that she, in her turn, was looking at him, the thin red lips of her small mouth tightly compressed, he grew confused, and spilt some water on the floor. "Wipe it," she said without anger. "There's a cloth under the chair." When he returned, the old man looked at him and asked: "What did she tell you?" But Yevsey had no time to answer before the woman brought in the tray. "Well, I'll go," she said after setting it on the table. "Very well," replied the master. She raised her hand to smooth the hair over her temples--her fingers were long--and left. The old man and the boy sat down to their supper. The master ate slowly, noisily munching his food and at times sighing wearily. When they began to eat the finely chopped roast meat, he said: "You see what good food? I always have only good food." After supper he told Yevsey to carry the dishes into the kitchen, and showed him how to light the lamp. "Now, go to sleep. You will find a piece of padding in the wardrobe and a pillow and a blanket. They belong to you. To-morrow I'll buy you new clothes, good clothes. Go, now." When he was half asleep the master came in to Yevsey. "Are you comfortable?" Though the chest made a hard bed, Yevsey answered: "Yes." "If it is too hot, open the window."