She used to come up to Ignat almost every Sunday with
various requests, all of which generally had but one aim--to hasten
the building of the lodging-asylum. In her presence Foma felt awkward,
huge, heavy; this pained him, and he blushed deeply under the
endearing look of Sophya Pavlovna's large eyes. He noticed that every
time she looked at him, her eyes would grow darker, while her upper
lip would tremble and raise itself slightly, thus displaying very
small white teeth. This always frightened him. When his father noticed
how steadfastly he was staring at Medinskaya he told him one day:
"Don't be staring so much at that face. Look out, she is like a birch
ember: from the outside it is just as modest, smooth and dark--
altogether cold to all appearances--but take it into your hand and it
will burn you."
Medinskaya did not kindle in the youth any sensual passion, for there
was nothing in her that resembled Pelageya, and altogether she was not
at all like other women. He knew that shameful rumours about her were
in the air, but he did not believe any of them.
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