I'm afraid!" "She's afraid, too," said Yegor.

"Aren't you afraid, Sasha ?" "Of course!" The mother looked at her, then at Yegor, and said in a low voice, "What strange----" "Give me a glass of tea, granny," Yegor interrupted her.
When Sashenka had drunk her glass of tea, she pressed Yegor's hand in silence, and walked out into the kitchen.

The mother followed her.

In the kitchen Sashenka said: "When you see Pavel, give him my regards, please." And taking hold of the latch, she suddenly turned around, and asked in a low voice: "May I kiss you ?" The mother embraced her in silence, and kissed her warmly.
"Thank you!" said the girl, and nodding her head, walked out.
Returning to the room, the mother peered anxiously through the window.
Wet flakes of snow fluttered through the dense, moist darkness.
"And do you remember Prozorov, the storekeeper ?" asked Yegor.

"He used to sit with his feet sprawling, and blow noisily into his glass of tea.
He had a red, satisfied, sweet-covered face." "I remember, I remember," said the mother, coming back to the table.
She sat down, and looking at Yegor with a mournful expression in her eyes, she spoke pityingly: "Poor Sashenka! How will she ever get to the city ?" "She will be very much worn out," Yegor agreed.