Sanine

This was the question uppermost in the minds of them all. Should they

go and see Semenoff die? Was it a right or wrong thing to do? They all

wanted to go, and yet were fearful of what they should see. Yourii

shrugged his shoulders.

"Let us go," he said. "Very likely they won't admit us, and perhaps,

too--"

"Perhaps he might wish to see some one," added Dubova, as if relieved.

"Come on! We'll go!" said Sina with decision.

"Schafroff and Novikoff are there," added Dubova, as if to justify

herself.

Sina ran indoors to fetch her hat and coat, and then they went sadly

through the town to the large, grey, three-storied building, the

hospital where Semenoff lay dying.

The long, vaulted passages were dark, and smelt strongly of iodoform

and carbolic. As they passed the section for the insane, they heard a

strident, angry voice, but no one was visible. They felt scared, and

anxiously hastened towards a dark little window. An old, grey-haired

peasant, with a long white beard and wearing a large apron came

clattering along the passage in his heavy top-boots to meet them.

"Who is it that you wish to see?" he asked, stopping short.

"A student has been brought here--Semenoff--to-day!" stammered Dubova.

"No. 6, please, upstairs," said the attendant, and passed on. They

could hear him spit noisily on the flooring and then wipe it with his

foot. Upstairs it was brighter and cleaner; and the ceiling was not

vaulted. A door with "Doctors' Room" inscribed on it stood ajar. A

lamp was burning in this room where a jingling of bottles and glasses

could be heard. Yourii looked inside, and called out. The jingling

ceased, and Riasantzeff appeared, looking fresh and hearty, as usual.

"Ah!" he exclaimed in a cheery voice, being evidently accustomed to

events such as that which saddened his visitors. "I am on duty to-day.

How do you do, ladies?" Yet, frowning suddenly, he added with grave

significance, "He seems to be still unconscious. Let us go to him.

Novikoff and the others are there."

As they walked in single file along the clean, bare passage, past big

white doors with black numbers on them, Riasantzeff said: "A priest has been sent for. It's astonishing how quickly the end came.

I was amazed. But latterly he caught cold, you know, and that was what

did it. Here we are."

Riasantzeff opened a white door and went in, the others following in

awkward fashion as they pushed against each other on the threshold.