I have come..." faltered the "unhappy" creature, in a voice broken with emotion.

"I have come only to kiss your hand...." Again she giggled.

With the childish look with which little children caress some one, begging for a favour, she stretched forward to seize Varvara Petrovna's hand, but, as though panic-stricken, drew her hands back.
"Is that all you have come for ?" said Varvara Petrovna, with a compassionate smile; but at once she drew her mother-of-pearl purse out of her pocket, took out a ten-rouble note and gave it to the unknown.
The latter took it.

Varvara Petrovna was much interested and evidently did not look upon her as an ordinary low-class beggar.
"I say, she gave her ten roubles!" some one said in the crowd.
"Let me kiss your hand," faltered the unknown, holding tight in the fingers of her left hand the corner of the ten-rouble note, which fluttered in the draught.

Varvara Petrovna frowned slightly, and with a serious, almost severe, face held out her hand.