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All stepped back. The confession was soon over. The dying man

probably understood little; he could only utter indistinct broken

sounds. Katerina Ivanovna took little Lida, lifted the boy from

the chair, knelt down in the corner by the stove and made the

children kneel in front of her. 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.