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In the passage the crowd of spectators from all the flats on the

staircase grew denser and denser, but they did not venture beyond

the threshold. A single candle-end lighted up the scene.

At that moment Polenka forced her way through the crowd at the

door. She came in panting from running so fast, took off her

kerchief, looked for her mother, went up to her and said, "She's

coming, I met her in the street." Her mother made her kneel

beside her.