Suddenly one of them would strike out of tune and all was mingled in a merry splash in hasty confusion.

Then a large, heavy drop would strike firmly and again the fast, spring melody resounded distinctly.

And over the city, above the roofs of the fortress, hung a pale redness in the sky reflected by the electric lights.
"U-ach!" Sergey Golovin heaved a deep sigh and held his breath, as though he regretted to exhale from his lungs the fine, fresh air.
"How long have you had such weather ?" inquired Werner.

"It's real spring." "It's only the second day," was the polite answer.

"Before that we had mostly frosty weather." The dark carriages rolled over noiselessly one after another, took them in by twos, started off into the darkness--there where the lantern was shaking at the gate.