Page:Leo Tolstoi - Life Is Worth Living and Other Stories - tr. Adolphus Norraikow (1892).djvu/182

 Rh in her eyes, thanked the old man for his kindness to her.

"Accept this 'for Christ's sake, said Martin, as he thrust a twenty-kopeck piece into her hand, "and redeem your shawl from the pawn-shop."

The woman made the sign of the cross. Martin did likewise, and then he accompanied her to the door.

After the woman left Martin had something to eat, and when he had finished he washed the dishes, and, putting the room in order, he once more sat down to work. A feeling of satisfaction filled his heart.

Martin while working did not forget the window, and as the shadow of each passer-by darkened its dingy panes he looked up. Friends and strangers both passed by, but nothing out of the ordinary occurred.

Suddenly a dark shadow fell across the little window, and Martin hastily looked up to see what caused it. What he saw was an old wom-