MAYAKIN lived in an enormous two-story house near a big palisade, where sturdy, old spreading linden trees were growing magnificently.

The rank branches covered the windows with a dense, dark embroidery, and the sun in broken rays peeped into the small rooms, which were closely crowded with miscellaneous furniture and big trunks, wherefore a stern and melancholy semi-darkness always reigned there supreme.

The family was devout--the odour of wax, of rock-rose and of image-lamp oil filled the house, and penitent sighs and prayers soared about in the air.

Religious ceremonials were performed infallibly, with pleasure, absorbing all the free power of the souls of the dwellers of the house.

Feminine figures almost noiselessly moved about the rooms in the half-dark, stifling, heavy atmosphere.