ThenIunderstoodwhatwasthematter，forIhadseenasimilarcasebefore。Yetforthemomentacertainfeelingofshynessmademeedgeawayfromheralittle；andasIdidso，sheutteredaprolongedmoan，andheralmostburstingeyeballsventedhot，murkytearswhichtrickleddownhertenseandlividfeatures。
　　ThereuponIturnedtoheragain，and，throwingdowncooking-pot，teapot，andwallet，laidheronherback，andstrovetobendherkneesupwardsinthedirectionofherbody。Meanwhileshesoughttorepelmewithblowsonfaceandbreast，andatlengthrolledontoherstomach。Then，raisingherselfonallfours，she，sobbing，gasping，andcursinginabreath，crawledawaylikeabearintoaremoterportionofthethicket。
　　“Beast！“shepanted。“Oh，youdevil！“
　　Yet，evenasthewordsescapedherlips，herarmsgavewaybeneathher，andshecollapseduponherface，withlegsstretchedout，andherlipsemittingafreshseriesofconvulsivemoans。
　　Excitednowtofeverpitch，Ihurriedlyrecalledmysmallstoreofknowledgeofsuchcasesandfinallydecidedtoturnheronherback，and，asbefore，tostrivetobendherkneesupwardsinthedirectionofherbody。Alreadysignsofimminentparturitionwerenotwanting。
　　“Liestill，“Isaid，“andifyoudothatitwillnotbelongbeforeyouaredeliveredofthechild。“
　　Whereafter，runningdowntothesea，Ipulledupmysleeves，and，onreturning，embarkeduponmyrole，ofaccoucheur。
　　Scoringtheearthwithherfingers，uprootingtuftsofwitheredgrass，andstrugglingtothrustthemintohermouth，scatteringsoiloverherterrible，inhumanfaceandbloodshoteyes，thewomanwrithedlikeastripofbirchbarkinawoodfire。Indeed，bythistimealittleheadwascomingintoview，anditneededallmyeffortstoquellthetwitchingsofherlegs，tohelpthechildtoissue，andtopreventitsmotherfromthrustinggrassdownherdistorted，moaningthroat。Meanwhilewecursedoneanother——shethroughherteeth，andIinanundertone；she，I
　　shouldsurmise，outofpainandshame，andI，Ifeelcertain，outofnervousness，mingledwithaperfectagonyofcompassion。
　　“OLord！“shegaspedwithbluelipsfleckedwithfoamashereyessuddenlybereftoftheircolourinthesunlightshedtearsbornoftheintolerableanguishofthematernalfunction，andherbodywrithedandtwistedasthoughherframehadbeenseveredinthemiddle。
　　“Away，youbrute！“washeroft-repeatedcryaswithherweakhands，handsseeminglydislocatedatthewrists，shestrovetothrustmetoadistance。YetallthetimeIkeptsayingpersuasively:“Youfool！Bringforthasquicklyasyoucan！“
　　and，asamatteroffact，wasfeelingsosorryforherthattearscontinuedtospurtfrommyeyesasmuchasfromhers，andmyveryheartcontractedwithpity。Also，neverdidIceasetofeelthatIoughttokeepsayingsomething；wherefore，I
　　repeated，andagainrepeated:“Nowthen！Bringforthasquicklyaseveryoucan！“
　　Andatlastmyhandsdidindeedholdahumancreatureinallitspristinebeauty。Norcouldeventhemistoftearspreventmefromseeingthatthathumancreaturewasredintheface，andthattojudgefromthemannerinwhichitkeptkickingandresistingandutteringhoarsewailswhilestillboundtoitsmotherbytheligament，itwasfeelingdissatisfiedinadvancewiththeworld。Yes，blue-eyed，andwithanoseabsurdlysunkenbetweenapairofscarlet，rumpledcheeksandlipswhichceaselesslyquiveredandcontracted，itkeptbawling:“A-aah！
　　A-a-ah！“
　　Moreover，soslipperywasitthat，asIkneltandlookedatitandlaughedwithreliefatthefactthatithadarrivedsafely，Icameneartolettingitfallupontheground:whereforeI
　　entirelyforgotwhatnextIoughttohavedone。
　　“Cutit！“atlengthwhisperedthemotherwitheyesclosed，andfeaturessuddenlyswollenandresemblingthoseofacorpse。
　　“Aknife！“againshewhisperedwithherlividlips。“Cutit！“
　　Mypocket-knifeIhadhadstolenfrommeintheworkmen’sbarraque；butwithmyteethIseveredthecaul，andthenthechildgaverenewedtongueintrueOrlovianfashion，whilethemothersmiled。Also，insomecuriousfashion，themother’sunfathomableeyesregainedtheircolour，andbecamefilledaswithbluefireas，plungingahandintoherbodiceandfeelingforthepocket，shecontrivedtoarticulatewithrawandblood-fleckedlips:
　　“Ihavenotasinglepieceofstringorribandtobindthecaulwith。“
　　UponthatIsetto，andmanagedtoproduceapieceofriband，andtofastenitintherequiredposition。
　　Thereaftershesmiledmorebrightlythanever。Soradiantlydidshesmilethatmyeyescameneartobeingblindedwiththespectacle。
　　“Andnowrearrangeyourself，“Isaid，“andinthemeanwhileI
　　willgoandwashthebaby。“
　　“Yes，yes，“shemurmureduneasily。“Butbeverycarefulwithhim——beverygentle。“
　　Yetitwaslittleenoughcarethattherosylittlehomunculusseemedtorequire，sostrenuouslydidheclenchhisfists，andbawlasthoughheweremindedtochallengethewholeworldtocombat。
　　“Come，now！“atlengthIsaid。“Youmusthavedone，oryourveryheadwilldropoff。“
　　Yetnosoonerdidhefeelthetouchoftheoceanspray，andbegintobesprinkledWithitsjoyouscaresses，thanhelamentedmoreloudlyandvigorouslythanever，andsocontinuedthroughouttheprocessofbeingslappedonthebackandbreastas，frowningandstruggling，heventedsquallaftersquallwhilethewaveslavedhistinylimbs。
　　“Shout，youngOrlovian！“saidIencouragingly。“Letflywithallthepowerofyourlungs！“
　　Andwiththat，Itookhimbacktohismother。Ifoundherwitheyesclosedandlipsdrawnbetweenherteethasshewrithedinthetormentofexpellingtheafter-birth。ButpresentlyI
　　detectedthroughthesighsandgroansawhispered:
　　“Givehimtome！Givehimtome！“
　　“Youhadbetterwaitalittle，“Iurged。
　　“Ohno！Givehimtomenow！“
　　Andwithtremulous，unsteadyhandssheunhookedthebosomofherbodice，and，freeingwithmyassistancethebreastwhichnaturehadpreparedforatleastadozenchildren，appliedthemutinousyoungOrloviantothenipple。Asforhim，heatonceunderstoodthematter，andceasedtosendforthfurtherlamentation。
　　“OpureandholyMotherofGod！“shegaspedinalong-drawn，quiveringsighasshebentadishevelledheadoverthelittleone，and，betweenintervalsofsilence，felltoutteringsoft，abruptexclamations。Then，openingherineffablybeautifulblueeyes，thehallowedeyesofamother，sheraisedthemtowardstheazureheavens，whileintheirdepthstherewascomingandgoingaflameofjoyandgratitude。Lastly，liftingalanguidhand，shewithaslowmovementmadethesignofthecrossoverbothherselfandherbabe。
　　“ThankstotheeOpurestMotherofGod！“shemurmured。
　　“Thanksindeedtothee！“
　　Thenhereyesgrewdimandvagueagain，andafterapauseduringwhichsheseemedtobescarcelybreathingshesaidinahardandmatter-of-facttone:
　　“Youngfellow，unfastenmysatchel。“
　　AndwhilstIwassoengagedshecontinuedtoregardmewithasteadygaze；but，whenthetaskwascompletedshesmiledshamefacedly，andonhersunkencheeksandsweat-fleckedtemplestheredawnedtheghostofablush。
　　“Now，“saidshe，“doyou，forthepresent，goaway。“
　　“AndifIdoso，seethatinthemeanwhileyoudonotmoveabouttoomuch。“
　　“No，Iwillnot。Butpleasegoaway。“
　　SoIwithdrewalittle。Inmybreastasortofwearinesswaslurking，butalsoinmybreasttherewasechoingasoftandgloriouschorusofbirds，achorussoexquisitelyinaccordwiththenever-ceasingsplashoftheseathatforevercouldIhavelistenedtoit，andtotheneighbouringbrookasitpurledonitswaylikeamaidenengagedinrelatingconfidencesaboutherlover。
　　Presently，thewoman’syellow-scarfedheadthescarfnowtidilyrearrangedreappearedoverthebushes。
　　“Come，come，goodwoman！“wasmyexclamation。“Itellyouthatyoumustnotmoveaboutsosoon。“
　　Andcertainlyherattitudenowwasoneofutterlanguor，andshehadperforcetograspthestemofabushwithonehandtosupportherself。Yetwhilethebloodwasgonefromherface，therehadformedinthehollowswherehereyeshadbeentwolakesofblue。
　　“Seehowheissleeping！“shemurmured。
　　And，trueenough，thechildwassoundasleep，thoughtomyeyeshelookedmuchasanyotherbabymighthavedone，savethatthecouchofautumnleavesonwhichhewasensconcedconsistedofleavesofakindwhichcouldnothavebeendiscoveredinthefarawayforestsofOrlov。
　　“Now，doyouyourselfliedownawhile，“wasmyadvice。
　　“Oh，no，“sherepliedwithashakeofherheadonitssinuousneck；“forImustbecollectingmythingsbeforeImoveontowards——“
　　“TowardsOtchenchiri“
　　“Yes。Bynowmyfolkwillhavegonemanyaverstinthatdirection。“
　　“Andcanyouwalksofar？“
　　“TheHolyMotherwillhelpme。“