Page:The Novels of Ivan Turgenev (volume VII).djvu/253

Rh cold water and vinegar. All at once Nezhdanov ceased gasping and stirred a little.

'He is coming to himself,' whispered Solomin.

Marianna was on her knees near the sofa.

Nezhdanov glanced at her up till then his eyes had had the fixed look of the dying.

'Oh, I'm still alive,' he articulated, scarcely audibly. 'Failed again I'm keeping you.'

'Alyosha!' moaned Marianna.

'Oh, yes directly. You remember, Marianna, in my poem  "With flowers then deck me " where are the flowers? But you're here instead. There, in my letter.'

He suddenly shivered all over.

'Ah, here she is. Give each other both  your hands—before me. Quick take '

Solomin grasped Marianna's hand. Her head lay on the sofa, face downwards, close to the wound.

Solomin stood stern and upright, looking dark as night.

'Yes good  yes '

Nezhdanov began to sob again, but in a strange, unusual way. His breast rose, his sides heaved.

He obviously was trying to lay his hand on