midday
I want her to turn her life upside down . '' After having talked they drove to the station . Sasha got her tea and apples ; and when the train began moving and he waved his handkerchief at her , smiling , it could be seen even from his legs that he was very ill and would not live long . Nadya reached her native town at midday . As she drove home from the station the streets struck her as very wide and the houses very small and squat ; there were no people about , she met no one but the German piano-tuner in a rusty greatcoat . And all the houses looked as though they were covered with dust . Granny , who seemed to have grown quite old , but was as fat and plain as ever , flung her arms round Nadya and cried for a long time with her face on Nadya 's shoulder , unable to tear herself away .