Page:Complete Works of Count Tolstoy - 02.djvu/66

48 not give his. We are mendicants, and nothing else. They will say that we have starved one woman, and would do so with their daughter. Who will give his?" she added, skeptically shaking her head. "Consider this, your Grace."

"But what can I do?"

"Think of some plan for us, father!" Arína repeated, persuasively. " What are we to do?"

"What plan can I find? I can do nothing for you in this matter."

"Who will do something for us, if not you?" said Arína, dropping her head, and waving her hands with an expression of sad perplexity.

"You have asked for grain, and I will order it to be given to you," said the master, after a short silence, during which Arína drew deep breaths and Davýdka seconded her. "That is all I can do."

Nekhlyúdov stepped into the vestibule. The woman and her son followed the master, bowing.