The old woman Zina fed Matilda by hot soup. She spoke without stopping. It was her professional quality – in her younger years she worked as a teacher.
"Let me bring you a dressing gown, and I'll wash the dress. The blood just can’t be washed."
"Thank you, Zina, but I have to go."
"Where will you go, my dear?"
"I'll go look for work."
"Where will you sleep? Come to us."
"Thank you, Zina, but really I shouldn't appearance here. Okay, shall I go? Is good?" said Matilda, got up and headed for the door, "thank you for not allowed me to freeze."
"Wait, do not go away, I'm right now," said Zina, and went out into the room. Matilda stood and waited for her at the front door.
"Here, take some money, you'll need it. We're old, and no need money," said Zina, and slipped several bank notes into Matilda's hand.
"But there are many, I would have enough only to travel around the city."
"Take it, take it."
"Thank you, Zina. I will refund the money when I will can. But when – I do not know."
"Don’t worry. We have money with my old man. We wait for you in this evening, come to sleep here. Wait, I'll bring a shawl now."
"Why should I have a shawl?" Matilda asked, but Zina went out to the room again.
Returning, she brought a thin woolen beige scarf. He was with a fringe. Then Zina tied a scarf around Matilda's waist. "So, the blood on dress will not be visible," she said.
Matilda once again thanked, said goodbye and left. She ran down the stairs, came out from the entrance, and, trying not to meet with neighbors, headed towards the street.
After several hours of walking around the city and looking for work, she stopped at the building with the inscription "Business Center Lingua." The lesson of English at school was Matilda's favorite lesson. Her teacher – Fonarina Darya Antonovna, was delighted with Matilda's successes and always gave her extra assignments and books in English. Matilda's pronunciation was perfect. Sometimes after the lessons, Matilda stayed at school and came to the English class room. There she could talk with Darya Antonovna in English. They discussed Matilda's books, sometimes Matilda retold them. Matilda felt confident in English and entered the building. In the front entrance hall towards Matilda came a guard. He was wearing a black suit and tie. An antique chair with bent legs stood behind him.