His burden is light," she said, with the look of ecstasy Alexey Alexandrovitch knew so well.

" He will be your support and your succor.

" Although there was in these words a flavor of that sentimental emotion at her own lofty feelings, and that new mystical fervor which had lately gained ground in Petersburg, and which seemed to Alexey Alexandrovitch disproportionate, still it was pleasant to him to hear this now.

"I am weak.