The little girl was still trembling; but the boy, kneeling on his little bare knees, lifted his hand rhythmically, crossing himself with precision and bowed down, touching the floor with his forehead, which seemed to afford him especial satisfaction.

Katerina Ivanovna bit her lips and held back her tears; she prayed, too, now and then pulling straight the boy's shirt, and managed to cover the girl's bare shoulders with a kerchief, which she took from the chest without rising from her knees or ceasing to pray.

Meanwhile the door from the inner rooms was opened inquisitively again.

In the passage the crowd of spectators from all the flats on the staircase grew denser and denser, but they did not venture beyond the threshold.

A single candle-end lighted up the scene.
At that moment Polenka forced her way through the crowd at the door.