In weight he reached the respectable figure of three hundred and twenty pounds, and by profession he was a sexton in the village of Voskesensk." "Are you Ivan's son ?" exclaimed the mother.
"I am that very mortal.

How did you know his name ?" "Why, I am a Voskresenskian myself!" "A fellow countrywoman! Who were your people ?" "Your neighbors.

I am a Sereguin." "Are you a daughter of Nil the Lame?
I thought your face was familiar! Why, I had my ears pulled by him many and many a time!" They stood face to face plying each other with questions and laughing.
Sashenka looked at them and smiled, and began to prepare the tea.

The clatter of the dishes recalled the mother to the realities of the present.
"Oh, excuse me! I quite forgot myself, talking about old times.

It is so sweet to recall your youth." "It's I who ought to beg your pardon for carrying on like this in your house!" said Sashenka.