impudently as soon as the village where they had passed the night, disappeared out of sight behind the wet hills.
With these words he turned at once to Sonetka, covered her up with his coat, and began to sing in a high falsetto voice:
"In the shade behind the window a fair head appears;
You don't sleep, my tormenter, you don't sleep, you rogue.
With my coat skirt I shall cover you, so that none shall see."
When he sang these words Sergei put his arms round Sonetka and gave her a loud kiss before the whole party.
Katerina Lvovna saw all this, and yet did not see it. She went along like a lifeless person. The others nudged her and pointed out how Sergei was playing the fool with Sonetka. She had become an object of ridicule.
"Leave her alone," Fiona said, trying to defend her, when one of the party attempted to laugh at Katerina Lvovna as she stumbled blindly along; "you devils, don't you see that the woman is quite ill?"
"Probably she got wet feet," a young convict said waggishly.
"Naturally, she's from a merchant's race; had a delicate up-bringing," answered Sergei.
"Of course, if she had warm stockings, it would not be so bad," continued he.
