Page:Iván Ilyitch and Other Stories (1887).djvu/136

 new valenki; the water-carrier passed by; then came alongside of the window an old soldier of Nicholas’s time, in an old pair of laced felt boots, with a shovel in his hands. Avdyéitch recognized him by his felt boots. The old man’s name was Stepánuitch; and a neighboring merchant, out of charity, gave him a home with him. He was required to assist the dvornik. Stepánuitch began to shovel away the snow from in front of Avdyéitch’s window. Avdyéitch glanced at him, and took up his work again.

“Pshaw! I must be getting crazy in my old age,” said Avdyéitch, and laughed at himself. “Stepánuitch is clearing away the snow, and I imagine that Christ is coming to see me. I was entirely out of my mind, old dotard that I am!” Avdyéitch sewed about a dozen stitches, and then felt impelled to look through the window again. He looked out again through the window, and sees Stepánuitch has leaned his shovel against the wall, and is either warming himself, or resting. He is an old, broken-down man: evidently he has not strength enough, even to shovel the snow. Martuin said to himself, “I will give him some tea: by the way, the samovar must be boiling by this time.” Avdyéitch laid down his awl, rose from his seat, put the samovar on the table, made the tea, and tapped with his finger at the glass. Stepánuitch turned around, and came to the window. Avdyéitch beckoned to him, and went to open the door.

“Come in, warm yourself a little,” he said. “You must be cold.”

“May Christ reward you for this! my bones ache,” said Stepánuitch.

Stepánuitch came in and shook off the snow, tried