Book 2 Chapter 6 Reflections of a Landlord

Again striking his head against both doors, Nekhludoff went out
into the street, where the pink and the white boys were waiting
for him. A few newcomers were standing with them. Among the
women, of whom several had babies in their arms, was the thin
woman with the baby who had the patchwork cap on its head. She
held lightly in her arms the bloodless infant, who kept strangely
smiling all over its wizened little face, and continually moving
its crooked thumbs.

Nekhludoff knew the smile to be one of suffering. He asked who
the woman was.

"It is that very Anisia I told you about," said the elder boy.

Nekhludoff turned to Anisia.

"How do you live?" he asked. "By what means do you gain your
livelihood?"

"How do I live? I go begging," said Anisia, and began to cry.

Nekhludoff took out his pocket-book, and gave the woman a
10-rouble note. He had not had time to take two steps before
another woman with a baby caught him up, then an old woman, then
another young one. All of them spoke of their poverty, and asked
for help. Nekhludoff gave them the 60 roubles--all in small
notes--which he had with him, and, terribly sad at heart, turned
home, i.e., to the foreman's house.

The foreman met Nekhludoff with a smile, and informed him that
the peasants would come to the meeting in the evening. Nekhludoff
thanked him, and went straight into the garden to stroll along
the paths strewn over with the petals of apple-blossom and
overgrown with weeds, and to think over all he had seen.