He rapped at the window.  She trembled from head to foot, as if an electric current had passed through her, and terror was reflected on her face.  Then she sprang up, and, going to the window, placed her face against the window-pane.  The expression of terror did not leave her even when, shading her eyes with the palms of her hands, she recognized him.  Her face was unusually grave—­he had never seen such an expression on it.  When he smiled she smiled also—­she smiled as if only in submission to him, but in her soul, instead of a smile, there was terror.  He motioned her with his hand to come out.  But she shook her head and remained at the window.  Again he leaned toward the window and was about to speak when she turned toward the door.  Some one had apparently called her.  Nekhludoff moved away from the window.  The fog was so dense that when five feet away he saw only a darkening mass from which a red, seemingly large, light of the lamp was reflected.  From the river came the same strange sounds of snuffling, crackling and grinding of the ice.  In the court-yard a cock crowed, others near by responded; then from the village, first singly, interrupting each other, then mingling into one chorus, was heard the crowing of all the cocks.  Except for the noise of the river, it was perfectly quiet all around.

After walking twice around the corner of the house, and stepping several times into mud-pools, Nekhludoff returned to the window of the maid-servants’ quarters.  The lamp was still burning, and Katiousha sat alone at the table as if in indecision.  As soon as he came near the window she looked at him.  He rapped.  Without stopping to see who had rapped, she immediately ran from the room, and he heard the opening and closing of the door.  He was already waiting for her in the passage, and immediately silently embraced her.  She pressed against his bosom, lifted her head, and with her lips met his kiss.

* * * * *

When Nekhludoff returned to his room it was getting brighter.  Below, the noises on the river increased, and a buzzing was added to the other sounds.  The mist began to settle, and from behind the wall of mist the waning moon appeared, gloomily, lighting up something dark and terrible.

“Is it good fortune or a great misfortune that has happened to me?” he asked himself.  “It is always thus; they all act in that way,” and he returned to his room.

[Illustration:  Prince Nekhludoff.]

CHAPTER XVIII.

On the following day the brilliant and jovial Shenbok called at the aunts for Nekhludoff, and completely charmed them with his elegance, amiability, cheerfulness, liberality, and his love for Dmitri.  Though his liberality pleased the aunts, they were somewhat perplexed by the excess to which he carried it.  He gave a ruble to a blind beggar; the servants received as tips fifteen rubles, and when Sophia Ivanovna’s