Tales of a Courtyard

the warm days won't be long." "That tree will be green before we can take off our coats." "Oh, my soul, what a winter it has been!" Only the old people were silent. They stood at the windows, nodding to one another, and sipping the air. Each moment the sun grew warmer. It fell on our starved hair and lips and hands like kisses. It made us drunk with joy. "It's going to be a fine year: the spring has started early. That's a sign." "One has a chance when the sun shines." "We'll be sitting outside within a week." "I must alter Marya's cotton pelisse." "As for me I never cough in the summer." "You know that's a very fine tree, even as trees go." We talked like rich people; we preened ourselves like birds. Suddenly some one shouted. "Hoo! I say, look at the students' window." The Russian students had a room in the top floor of the biggest house. Three of them shared it--two men and a girl. They were scarcely ever seen, except behind the window, pacing up and down and talking with great gestures, or at dusk half running across the court. They were desperately p