was wearing away.  ‘Well? how is she?’ ‘Oh, all right, all right!’ All right, indeed!  My mind was failing me.  Well, I was sitting one night alone again by my patient.  The maid was sitting there too, and snoring away in full swing; I can’t find fault with the poor girl, though; she was worn out too.  Aleksandra Andreyevna had felt very unwell all the evening; she was very feverish.  Until midnight she kept tossing about; at last she seemed to fall asleep; at least, she lay still without stirring.  The lamp was burning in the corner before the holy image.  I sat there, you know, with my head bent; I even dozed a little.  Suddenly it seemed as though some one touched me in the side; I turned round...  Good God!  Aleksandra Andreyevna was gazing with intent eyes at me ... her lips parted, her cheeks seemed burning.  ‘What is it?’ ’Doctor, shall I die?’ ‘Merciful Heavens!’ ’No, doctor, no; please don’t tell me I shall live ... don’t say so...  If you knew...  Listen! for God’s sake don’t conceal my real position,’ and her breath came so fast.  ’If I can know for certain that I must die ... then I will tell you all—­ all!’ ‘Aleksandra Andreyevna, I beg!’ ’Listen; I have not been asleep at all ...  I have been looking at you a long while...  For God’s sake!...  I believe in you; you are a good man, an honest man; I entreat you by all that is sacred in the world—­tell me the truth!  If you knew how important it is for me...  Doctor, for God’s sake tell me...  Am I in danger?’ ’What can I tell you, Aleksandra Andreyevna, pray?’ ‘For God’s sake, I beseech you!’ ‘I can’t disguise from you,’ I say, ’Aleksandra Andreyevna; you are certainly in danger; but God is merciful.’  ‘I shall die, I shall die.’  And it seemed as though she were pleased; her face grew so bright; I was alarmed.  ’Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid!  I am not frightened of death at all.’  She suddenly sat up and leaned on her elbow.  ’Now ... yes, now I can tell you that I thank you with my whole heart ... that you are kind and good—­that I love you!’ I stare at her, like one possessed; it was terrible for me, you know.  ‘Do you hear, I love you!’ ’Aleksandra Andreyevna, how have I deserved—­’ ’No, no, you don’t—­you don’t understand me.’...  And suddenly she stretched out her arms, and taking my head in her hands, she kissed it...  Believe me, I almost screamed aloud...  I threw myself on my knees, and buried my head in the pillow.  She did not speak; her fingers trembled in my hair; I listen; she is weeping.  I began to soothe her, to assure her...  I really don’t know what I did say to her.  ‘You will wake up the girl,’ I say to her; ‘Aleksandra Andreyevna, I thank you ... believe me ... calm yourself.’  ‘Enough, enough!’ she persisted; ’never mind all of them; let them wake, then; let them come in—­it does not matter; I am dying, you see...  And what do you fear? why are you afraid?  Lift up your head...  Or, perhaps, you don’t love me; perhaps I am wrong...  In that case, forgive me.’  ’Aleksandra Andreyevna,