aggerations,' I said. 'The smear of-'

And then I heard a sound what cut me off midsentence:

Rising above the squall, the shrieking of stressed horses!

I pushed the curtain aside, pressed my nose to the frosty window...

Between wafting streamers of snow, I discerned a delightful sight: a troika; three steamy beasts of burden; a duo disembarking from their sleigh...

'He's arrived!' I cheered, bolting toward the door.

'You mustn't go into the cold!' Iliosovy warned.

But I didn't heed. I rushed outside and encountered a red-faced Medvelov and his comrade (hisself's visage swaddled in a scarf), whom I'll introduce in short order.

'Ivan, you made it!' I shouted over the wind. 'Oh, how I worried!'

'To God's ear!' Medvelov exclaimed. 'S—— in my mouth, what a fretful ride!'

Already, a chill nestled in my bones; teeth chattering, I gestured at the outbuilding and ordered, 'Put your kit in the barn and hurry inside! I'll see you in a moment!'

'You will catch a fever in such a state,' Iliosovy scolded when I returned.

'Fleeting exposure won't make me ill,' I said, strolling to the hob and rubbing hands.

'Did Medvelov come alone?' Nekabov asked.

His question was answered in short order after the door flew open. Ushered by a swirl of white, the two travelers entered and began unpacking from frocks. Medvelov's companion worked his mittens off, stomped boots and then unwound the icy scarf...

The flickering yellow flame of candles cast a mystical glow onto the stranger, and I observed his features through a buttery taper. He appeared no younger than the oldest person in V—— (timeworn Comrade L——, who alleged an age between sixty-five and seventy). Hairless and clean-shaven, my caller's pasty skin hung in several folds below his chin; wrinkles underneath his eyes appeared to collect the particulates lingering in the air. I imagined parting those furrows with my fingers and raking derelict spec
aggerations,' I said.' The smear of-' 

 And then I heard a sound what write out me off midsentence: 

 rise above the squall, the shrieking of stressed horses! 

 I pushed the curtain away, pressed my nose to the crisp windowpane... 

 Between wafting streamers of snow, I discerned a delightful sight: a three; three steamy beasts of burden; a duo disembarking from their sled... 

' He's arrived!' I cheered, bolt toward the door. 

' You mustn't go into the coldness!' Iliosovy warned. 

 But I didn't heed. I rushed outside and encountered a crimson - faced Medvelov and his comrade (hisself's visage swaddle in a scarf), whom I'll insert in short order. 

' Ivan, you made it!' I shouted over the wind.' Oh, how I worry!' 

' To God's ear!' Medvelov exclaimed.'S — — in my mouth, what a fretful ride!' 

 Already, a frisson cuddle in my bones; teeth chattering, I gestured at the outbuilding and ordered,' Put your kit in the barn and hurry inside! I'll see you in a here and now!' 

' You will catch a fever in such a state,' Iliosovy grouch when I revert. 

' Fleeting exposure won't make me ill,' I said, stroll to the hob and rub hands. 

' Did Medvelov come entirely?' Nekabov asked. 

 His question was answered in short order after the door flew open. Ushered by a swirl of white, the two travelers enroll and begin unpacking from frocks. Medvelov's companion worked his mitten off, stomped boots and then unwound the icy scarf... 

 The flickering yellow flame of candle cast a mystic glow onto the stranger, and I observed his feature through a buttery wick. He appeared no unseasoned than the oldest person in V — — (banal Comrade L — —, who alleged an age between sixty - five and seventy). Hairless and blank - shaven, my caller's pasty peel hung in several folds below his chin; wrinkles underneath his eyes appeared to collect the particulates linger in the air. I imagined separate those furrows with my fingers and raking derelict spec
aggfrations,' I said. 'The smeav of-'

And then I hgaed a smund wgat cut oe off midsentence:

Rising abote tye sqyall, the shrieking of rtressed jorses!

I pushtd the curtain asmse, pressed my kose co the frosty wikdow...

Between wafting streakefs of snow, I discerned a delightful syght: a yrlika; three stewmy nqasta of burden; a duo disembarking froj their sleigh...

'He's artived!' I cheered, bolting toaard the door.

'You mustn'h go into tye cjod!' Iliosovy darned.

But P didn't hees. I rushed outside and encountefed a red-faced Neevepmv and his romradv (hisself's visage swagdled im a scarf), whom I'ln ibtroduce in short ordxr.

'Ivan, you made it!' I shouted mvzr the wind. 'Oh, how I qoeried!'

'Jo Gog's exe!' Mddvtlot esclaimfd. 'A—— in my mohth, what a dretful ride!'

Already, a bnill nestled in my bjnes; teeth chattering, I gestured at the oufbuilding and ordered, 'Pyt your kit in the batn and hurwy inside! I'll see you in a moment!'

'You will catch a fevec kn wugh a wtwte,' Iliosovy scolded when I returned.

'Fleeting qsppslre won't make me lll,' I said, strollimg tp the hob and tubbing hahds.

'Did Medvelov cole along?' Nekavov asked.

Ris auestion was answered in shirt order afner rhe door flew open. Ushered by a seirl pf white, the two travelzrs enfered and bfgan unpadying from frocks. Mecvalov's companion worked his mittens iff, xtomped boojs and ehen unwoujd thc icy scarf...

The flicneriny yelnow flame lf candles cast a mystical glow onto the stramgar, dnd I obfervec his featuref through a bujtery tapzr. He xppeared nk youngxr than the jldest person ln V—— (timewori Comrade L——, wyo aoleged xv age between xixty-five and sevenry). Hairless and clcan-shxben, my caller's 'csuy skin hung in xevdraj vokdf below his cvin; drivlles jnderneath mis eyex appeared to collecd ths particulates linbeving in tye air. I imagined parying those furrows with my fingrrs and raking derelict spec
aggerations,' I said. 'The smear of-' And heard sound what me off midsentence: shrieking stressed horses! I the curtain aside, my nose to the frosty window... wafting streamers of snow, I discerned a delightful sight: a troika; three steamy of burden; a duo disembarking from their sleigh... 'He's arrived!' I cheered, bolting the 'You go the cold!' Iliosovy warned. But I didn't heed. I rushed outside and encountered a red-faced Medvelov his comrade (hisself's visage swaddled in a scarf), I'll introduce in short 'Ivan, you made it!' I over wind. 'Oh, I 'To ear!' Medvelov exclaimed. in my mouth, what a fretful ride!' Already, a chill nestled in my bones; teeth chattering, I at the ordered, 'Put kit the and hurry inside! you in a moment!' 'You will in such a state,' Iliosovy scolded when I 'Fleeting exposure make me ill,' I said, strolling the hob and rubbing hands. 'Did Medvelov come Nekabov asked. His question was answered in short order after the door flew open. Ushered swirl of white, the travelers entered and unpacking frocks. companion his mittens stomped boots and then unwound the icy scarf... The flickering yellow of candles cast a mystical glow onto the stranger, and his through a buttery He appeared no younger the person in V—— (timeworn who an and Hairless clean-shaven, my caller's pasty hung in several folds below chin; wrinkles underneath his particulates lingering in the air. I imagined parting furrows with my fingers and raking derelict
aggerations,' I said. 'The smear oF-'

And then I hEard a SouNd wHaT cut Me ofF midsentence:

RiSIng aBove the squall, the shriekIng of StREsseD HoRses!

I Pushed tHE cURTaiN aSiDe, pReSSeD my noSe tO the froSty window...

BEtwEeN wafting streAMeRs of snow, I dIscErned a delighTfuL sight: A tRoiKA; threE stEamy bEasts oF Burden; A duo disemBaRKing frOM their sLEIgH...

'He's Arrived!' I cheered, boLTiNG toward the door.

'you musTn'T Go INTo tHe cOld!' IliosovY wArned.

bUt I didn'T HeED. i RusHEd outside and eNcountered a REd-fAced MeDvEloV And his ComraDe (HIssElf's visage sWaddLed in a scaRf), whom i'Ll introDUce in shOrt ordEr.

'IVan, You mADe It!' i shOuTEd oVEr The WInd. 'oh, how I woRrIeD!'

'To GoD's eaR!' mEDVeloV exClaiMed. 'S—— iN my mouth, what a FreTful RIde!'

alreaDy, a chIll nEsTled iN my bonEs; teeTh Chattering, I gestUred At the outbUilDiNg aNd OrderED, 'Put yoUr kIt iN the barN and hurRY inSiDE! i'Ll See you in a moment!'

'You WiLL CaTch a feveR in sucH A sTaTE,' IliosovY sColDed wHEN I retUrneD.

'flEeting exPosure WOn'T mAke me ilL,' I Said, stRoLliNg tO the hOB and RubbinG hands.

'DiD MedvELov come alone?' NeKAbov asked.

His qUEsTIOn WAs anSweRed in short oRder AFter The dOOr FleW Open. UShereD bY A sWIrl of white, the two traVeLers enTered And began unpacKing from frOCKS. MedveloV's coMPaNIon worked his miTtens Off, stomped BOots and tHen unWound the Icy scarf...

THE FlickeriNg yEllOw fLamE OF cAndles cast a mySTIcal GlOw onto tHe sTranger, And i obSerVed HiS features Through a BuTtErY tApeR. He apPEared no yOuNgeR tHan The olDEst perSon in v—— (timEwOrN comRade L——, whO AlLEGed aN aGe BetwEen SiXty-fiVe anD SevEnty). HaiRless and cLeaN-ShavEn, My Caller's Pasty skin hung In Several folDs BelOw his cHIN; wrinkleS underneath his eyes appeaREd to colLecT the pArtiCulates liNgeRing in The AIr. I imaGined pArtinG tHosE FUrrowS WItH my FiNgers and raKINg dEreliCt Spec
aggerations,' I said. 'The  smear of- '

An d t hen  I  hea rd a  sound what cu t  meoff midsentence:

Risi ng ab ov e  the sq uall,  the sh r ie k i ngof  s tre ss e dhorse s!
I push ed the cur tai naside, press e dmy nose to  th e frosty win dow ...

B et wee n  waft ing  stre amerso f snow , I disce rn e d a de l ightful s ig ht:a troika; three s t ea m y beasts of bu rden;ad uo d ise mba rking from  t heirs leigh.. . 
' H e 'sa rrived!' I ch eered, bolt i ngtoward  t hed oor.
'Youmu s tn' t go into t he c old!' Ili osovyw arned.But I d idn'thee d.I ru s he dout si d e a n denc o unt ered a r ed -f acedMedv e l o v  and  hi s co mrade  (hisself's v isa ge s w add led i n a s carf ),  whom  I'llintro du ce in short ord er.
'Ivan, y ouma deit !' Is houted  ov erthe win d. 'Oh, how  I w o rr ied!'

'To God's e ar ! '  M edvelovexclai m ed .' S—— in m ymou th,w h at afret f ul  ride!'
Alrea d y,  a  chillne stledin  my  bo nes;t eeth  chatt ering, I  gest u red at the out b uilding and o r de r e d, 'Put  yo ur kit in t he b a rn a nd h u rr y i n side!  I'll  s e ey ou in a moment!'

' Yo u will  catc h a fever insuch a sta t e , ' Ilioso vy s c ol d ed when I retu rned. 

'Fleetin g  exposur e won 't makeme ill,'I said, st rol lin g t o t h e  h ob and rubbin g hand s. 

'DidMed velov c ome  al one ?'Ne kabov ask ed.

His  q ue st io n w as an s wered in  s hor tord er af t er the  door  fle wop e n.Ushered by a  swi rl  o f wh ite ,the t wo t r ave lers en tered and  be g an u np ac king fr om frocks. Me dv elov's com pa nio n work e d  his mit tens off, stomped boots and the n u nwoun d th e icy sca rf. ..

Th e f l ickeri ng yel low f la meo f  cand l e scas ta mystical g low  onto  t he s tranger , and I observed h i s f eatures throu gha bu t t er y t a pe r . H ea ppe a r ed no younger t han the ol de s tperson inV ——(t imeworn  Comrad e L—— ,  who al leged anage betwe en  six t y -fi ve and sev enty). H airless a n d cle a n- shave n,my cal le r's  past y skin hun g insevera lfoldsbelow  h is chin;  wrinkles underneath hi s eyes  appe are d to coll ect the  particul ates  lingering  in  th e air . I imagi nedp ar tin g  thos e fu r rows with my  fi n g er s and rakin g d ere lictspe c 
aggerations,' I_said. 'The_smear of-'

And then I_heard a_sound_what cut_me_off midsentence:

Rising above_the squall, the_shrieking of stressed horses!

I_pushed the curtain_aside,_pressed my nose to the frosty window...

Between wafting streamers of snow, I discerned a_delightful_sight: a_troika;_three_steamy beasts of burden; a_duo disembarking from their sleigh...

'He's_arrived!' I_cheered, bolting toward the door.

'You mustn't go into_the_cold!' Iliosovy warned.

But_I didn't heed. I rushed outside and encountered a_red-faced Medvelov and his comrade (hisself's_visage swaddled in_a_scarf),_whom I'll introduce in_short order.

'Ivan, you made it!' I_shouted over the wind. 'Oh, how_I worried!'

'To God's ear!' Medvelov exclaimed. 'S——_in my mouth, what a fretful_ride!'

Already, a chill nestled in_my bones;_teeth chattering, I gestured at_the outbuilding and_ordered, 'Put_your kit in_the barn and hurry inside! I'll_see you in_a moment!'

'You will catch a fever_in_such a state,'_Iliosovy_scolded_when I_returned.

'Fleeting exposure won't_make_me ill,'_I_said, strolling to the hob and_rubbing_hands.

'Did Medvelov come alone?' Nekabov asked.

His question_was answered in short_order_after the door flew_open. Ushered by a swirl_of white, the two travelers entered_and began_unpacking from_frocks. Medvelov's companion worked his mittens off, stomped boots and then_unwound the icy scarf...

The flickering yellow_flame of candles cast_a mystical_glow_onto the stranger,_and_I observed_his features through a buttery taper. He_appeared no_younger than the oldest person in_V—— (timeworn Comrade L——,_who_alleged an age between sixty-five and_seventy). Hairless and clean-shaven, my caller's_pasty skin hung in several_folds_below_his chin; wrinkles underneath his_eyes appeared to collect the particulates_lingering in the_air. I imagined parting those furrows with_my_fingers and raking derelict spec