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Beside her, also sewing, sat a little woman, good-natured and talkative, dark, snub-nosed and with little black eyes. She was the watch-woman at a flag-station, and was sentenced to three months' imprisonment for negligently causing an accident on the railroad.
"Well, has he changed his mind about marrying you?" asked Korableva. "No, he has not, but I do not wish to," answered Maslova, "and I told him so." "What a fool!" said Korableva, in her basso voice. "What is the good of marrying if they cannot live together?" asked Theodosia. "Is not your husband going with you?" answered the watch-woman. "We are legally married," said Theodosia.
In the cell were only the consumptive with her babe, the old woman, Menshova, and the watch-woman with her two children. The deacon's daughter had been removed to the hospital; the others were washing. The old woman lay on the cot sleeping; the children were in the corridor, the door to which was open.
She angrily crushed it, threw it away and took another. The watch-woman, although she was no smoker, immediately picked up the cigarette-end and began to straighten it, talking at the same time. "As I said to Matveievna, dear," she said, "it is ill-luck. They do what they please. And we thought they would discharge you.
Well?" she said, rapidly moving her fingers. Maslova made no answer. "The women went washing. They say that to-day's alms were larger. Many things have been brought, they say," said the consumptive. "Finashka!" shouted the watch-woman. "Where are you, you little rogue?" She drew out one of the knitting needles, stuck it into the ball of thread and stocking, and went out into the corridor.
The jailers are very angry, for he gave them no rest." It became quiet in the upper corridor, and the watch-woman finished her story, how she was frightened when she saw the peasant flogged, and how it turned her stomach. Miss Dandy told how Schezloff was flogged with a lash while he never uttered a word.
"They say he is a fine fellow," added Theodosia, who was sitting on a log on which stood a tea-pot. "If you were to tell him, Michaelovna," the watch-woman said to Maslova, meaning Nekhludoff. "I will. He will do anything for me," Maslova answered, smiling and shaking her head. "It will be too late; they are going to fetch him now," said Theodosia. "It is awful," she added, sighing.
The consumptive with the child in her arms and the watch-woman, who did not cease knitting a stocking with her nimble fingers, approached Maslova. "Well, have you seen him?" they asked. Maslova dangled her feet, which did not reach the floor, and made no answer. "What are you whimpering about?" said the watch-woman. "Above all, keep up your spirits. Oh, Katiousha!
Theodosia then removed the pots and bowls; Korableva and the watch-woman took to their sewing, while Maslova, hugging her knees, became sad from ennui. She was about to lay down to sleep when the matron called her into the office, where a visitor was waiting for her.
She made no answer, and without looking at him left the room, preceded by the warden. "Well, girl, good times are coming," said Korableva to Maslova when the latter returned to the cell. "He seems to be stuck on you, so make the most of it while he is calling. He will get you released. The rich can do anything." "That's so," drawled the watch-woman.
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