over her dress。 In the darkness I could make out only her brown
dress； and the kerchiefs on her head and neck。 She was short in
stature； as is often the case with the prematurely born； with small
feet； and a comparatively broad and awkward figure。
〃We're waiting for you； you carrion。 Get along； what do you mean by
it？ I'll give it to you！〃 shouted the policeman。 He was evidently
tired； and he had had too much of her。 She advanced a few paces； and
again halted。
The little old porter； a good…natured fellow （I know him）； tugged at
her hand。 〃Here； I'll teach you to stop！ On with you！〃 he repeated；
as though in anger。 She staggered； and began to talk in a discordant
voice。 At every sound there was a false note； both hoarse and
whining。
〃Come now； you're shoving again。 I'll get there some time！〃
She stopped and then went on。 I followed them。
〃You'll freeze；〃 said the porters
〃The likes of us don't freeze： I'm hot。〃
She tried to jest； but her words sounded like scolding。 She halted
again under the lantern which stands not far from our house； and
leaned against； almost hung over； the fence； and began to fumble for
something among her skirts； with benumbed and awkward hands。 Again
they shouted at her； but she muttered something and did something。
In one hand she held a cigarette bent into a bow； in the other a
match。 I paused behind her； I was ashamed to pass her； and I was
ashamed to stand and look on。 But I made up my mind； and stepped
forward。 Her shoulder was lying against the fence； and against the
fence it was that she vainly struck the match and flung it away。 I
looked in her face。 She was really a person prematurely born； but；
as it seemed to me； already an old woman。 I credited her with thirty
years。 A dirty hue of face； small； dull； tipsy eyes； a button…like
nose； curved moist lips with drooping corners； and a short wisp of
harsh hair escaping from beneath her kerchief； a long flat figure；
stumpy hands and feet。 I paused opposite her。 She stared at me； and
burst into a laugh； as though she knew all that was going on in my
mind。
I felt that it was necessary to say something to her。 I wanted to
show her that I pitied her。
〃Are your parents alive？〃 I inquired。
She laughed hoarsely； with an expression which said； 〃he's making up
queer things to ask。〃
〃My mother is；〃 said she。 〃But what do you want？〃
〃And how old are you？〃
〃Sixteen；〃 said she； answering promptly to a question which was
evidently customary。
〃Come； march； you'll freeze； you'll perish entirely；〃 shouted the
policeman； and she swayed away from the fence； and； staggering along；
she went down Khamovnitchesky Lane to the police…station； and I
turned to the wicket； and entered the house； and inquired whether my
daughters had returned。 I was told that they had been to an evening
party； had had a very merry time； had come home； and were in bed。
Next morning I wanted to go to the station…house to learn what had
been done with this unfortunate woman； and I was preparing to go out
very early； when there came to see me one of those unlucky noblemen；
who； through weakness； have dropped from the gentlemanly life to
which they are accustomed； and who alternately rise and fall。 I had
been acquainted with this man for three years。 In the course of
those three years； this man had several times made way with every
thing that he had； and even with all his clothes； the same thing had
just happened again； and he was passing the nights temporarily in the
Rzhanoff house； in the night…lodging section； and he had come to me
for the day。 He met me as I was going out； at the entrance； and
without listening to me he began to tell me what had taken place in
the Rzhanoff house the night before。 He began his narrative； and did
not half finish it； all at once （he is an old man who has seen men
under all sorts of aspects） he burst out sobbing； and flooded has
countenance with tears； and when he had become silent； turned has
face to the wall。 This is what he told me。 Every thing that he
related to me was absolutely true。 I authenticated his story on the
spot； and learned fresh particulars which I will relate separately。
In that night…lodging house； on the lower floor； in No。 32； in which
my friend had spent the night； among the various； ever…changing
lodgers； men and women； who came together there for five kopeks；
there was a laundress； a woman thirty years of age； light…haired；
peaceable and pretty； but sickly。 The mistress of the quarters had a
boatman lover。 In the summer her lover kept a boat； and in the
winter they lived by letting accommodations to night…lodgers： three
kopeks without a pillow； five kopeks with a pillow。
The laundress had lived there for several months； and was a quiet
woman； but latterly they had not liked her； because she coughed and
prevented the women from sleeping。 An old half…crazy woman eighty
years old； in particular； also a regular lodger in these quarters；
hated the laundress； and imbittered the latter's life because she
prevented her sleeping； and cleared her throat all night like a
sheep。 The laundress held her peace； she was in debt for her
lodgings； and was conscious of her guilt； and therefore she was bound
to be quiet。 She began to go more and more rarely to her work； as
her strength failed her； and therefore she could not pay her
landlady； and for the last week she had not been out to work at all；
and had only poisoned the existence of every one； especially of the
old woman； who also did not go out； with her cough。 Four days before
this； the landlady had given the laundress notice to leave the
quarters： the latter was already sixty kopeks in debt； and she
neither paid them； nor did the landlady foresee any possibility of
getting them； and all the bunks were occupied； and the women all
complained of the laundress's cough。
When the landlady gave the laundress notice； and told her that she
must leave the lodgings if she did not pay up； the old woman rejoiced
and thrust the laundress out of doors。 The laundress departed； but
returned in an hour； and the landlady had not the heart to put her
out again。 And the second and the third day； she did not turn her
out。 〃Where am I to go？〃 said the laundress。 But on the third day；
the landlady's lover； a Moscow man； who knew the regulations and how
to manage； sent for the police。 A policeman with sword and pistol on
a red cord came to the lodgings； and with courteous words he led the
laundress into the street。
It was a clear； sunny； but freezing March day。 The gutters were
flowing； the house…porters were picking at the ice。 The cabman's
sleigh jolted over the icy snow； and screeched over the stones。 The
laundress walked up the street on the sunny side； went to the church；
and seated herself at the entrance； still on the sunny side。 But
when the sun began to sink behind the houses； the puddles began to be
skimmed over with a glass of frost； and the laundress grew cold and
wretched。 She rose； and dragged herself 。 。 。 whither？ Home； to the
only home where she had lived so long。 While she was on her way；
resting at times； dusk descended。 She approached the gates； turned
in； slipped； groaned and fell。
One man came up； and then another。 〃She must be drunk。〃 Another man
came up； and stumbled over the laundress； and said to the potter：
〃What drunken woman is this wallowing at your gate？ I came near
breaking my head over her； take her away； won't you？〃
The porter came。 The laundress was dead。 This is what my friend
told me。 It may be thought that I have wilfully mixed up facts；I
encounter a prostitute of fifteen； and the story of this laundress。
But let no one imagine this； it is exactly what happened in the
course of one night （only I do not remember which） in March； 1884。
And so； after hearing my friend's tale； I went to the station…house；
with the intention of proceeding thence to the Rzhanoff house to
inquire more minutely into the history of the laundress。 The weather
was very beautiful and sunny； and again； through the stars of the
night…frost； water was to be seen trickling in the shade； and in the
glare of the sun on Khamovnitchesky square every thing was melting；
and the water was streaming。 The river emitted a humming noise。 The
trees of the Neskutchny garden looked blue across the river； the
reddish…brown sparrows； invisible in winter； attracted attention by
their sprightliness； people also seemed desirous of being merry； but
all of them had too many cares。 The sound of the bells was audible；
and at the foundation of these mingling sounds； the sounds of shots
could be heard from the barracks； the whistle of rifle…balls and
their crack against the target。
I entered the station…house。 In the station some armed policemen
conducted me to their chief。 He was similarly armed with sword and
pistol； and he was engaged in taking some measures with regard to a
tattered； trembling old man； who was standing before him； and who
could not answer the questions put to him； on account of his
feebleness。 Having finished his business with the old man； he turned
to me。 I inquired about the girl of the night before。 At first he
listened to me attentively； but afterwards he began to smile； at my
ignorance of the regulations； in consequence of which she had been
taken to the station…house； and particularly at my surprise at her
youth。
〃Why； there are plenty of them of twelve； thirteen； or fourteen years
of age；〃 he said cheerfully。
But in answer to my question about the girl whom I had seen on the
preceding evening； he explained to me that she must have been sent to
the committee （so it appeared）。 To my question where she had passed
the night； he replied in an undecided manner。 He did not recall the
one to whom I referred。 There were so many of them every day。
In No。 32 of the Rzhanoff house I found the sacristan already reading
prayers over the dead woman。 They had taken her to the bunk which
she had formerly occupied； and the lodgers； all miserable beings； had
collected money for the masses for her soul； a coffin and a shroud；
and the old women had dressed her and laid her out。