Phantoms and Other Stories

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1907 edition. Excerpt: ...doubt! "--exclaimed Priimkoff. "Oh, of course! "--chimed in Schimmel. We entered the house. "Where is the mistress? "--Priimkoff asked of a maid whom we encountered. "She has been pleased to go to her bedroom." Priimkoff directed his steps to the bedroom. I went out on the terrace with Schimmel. The old man raised his eyes to the sky. "How many stars there are!"--he said slowly, as he took a pinch of snuff;--" and all of them are worlds,"--he added, taking another pinch. I did not consider it necessary to answer him, and only gazed upward in silence. A secret per i plexity was weighing on my soul.... The stars seemed to me to be gazing seriously at us. Five minutes later, Priimkoff made his appearance and summoned us to the dining-room. Vyera.Nikolaevna soon came also. We sat down. "Just look at Vyerotchka,"--said Priimkoff tome. I glanced at her. "Well? Don't you notice anything?" I really did note a change in her face, but I know not why I answered: "No, nothing." "Her eyes are red,"--went on Priimkoff. I held my peace. "Just fancy, I went to her up-stairs, and found her; she was crying. It is a long time since that has happened with her. I can tell you the last time she cried: it was when our Sasha died. So that 's what you have done with your 'Faust'! " he added with a smile. "You must see now, Vyera Nikolaevna,"--I began,--" that I was right when...." "I had not expected that,"--she interrupted me;--"but God knows whether you are right. Perhaps the reason my mother prohibited my reading such books was because she knew...." Vyera Nikolaevna stopped short. "Because she knew?"--I...