Let them sleep longer to-day; they've worn themselves out, both of them." A cheerful ray of sun looked into the room.

She held her hand out to it, and with the other gently patted the bright young beam, smiling kindly and thoughtfully.

Then she rose, removed the pipe from the samovar, trying not to make a noise, washed herself, and began to pray, crossing herself piously, and noiselessly moving her lips.

Her face was radiant, and her right eyebrow kept rising gradually and suddenly dropping.
The second whistle blew more softly with less assurance, a tremor in its thick and mellow sound.

It seemed to the mother that the whistle lasted longer to-day than ever.