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“Then perhaps you have some potatoes?”
“They have been blasted with the frost….”
There was no help for it; so bread alone was supplied. The hostess brought in the tea-urn (samovar) to our astonishment. Thank God for that! We were getting warm cups of tea brought, which we drank, and then ate bread with onions, which the hostess presented in a basket. In the meantime outside a raging snowstorm was going on. The snow beat against the window coming down copiously, and noisily striking against the wall, a flame of fire flickered and sometimes appeared inclined to go out.
“It is impossible for you people to drive farther,” she said—“remain here for the night!”
“What can we do? why not stay here!”
