She dressed hastily, for some reason wrapped her shawl tightly around her head, and ran to Fedya Mazin, who, she knew, was sick and not working.

She found him sitting at the window reading a book, and moving his right hand to and fro with his left, his thumb spread out.

On learning the news he jumped up nervously, his lips trembled, and his face paled.
"There you are! And I have an abscess on my finger!" he mumbled.
"What are we to do ?" asked Vlasova, wiping the perspiration from her face with a hand that trembled nervously.
"Wait a while! Don't be afraid," answered Fedya, running his sound hand through his curly hair.
"But you are afraid yourself!" "I ?" He reddened and smiled in embarrassment.

"Yes--h-m-- I had a fit of cowardice, the devil take it! We must let Pavel know.

I'll send my little sister to him.