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The whole day passed without any one in the village of Pokrovski having seen anything of Polikey. During the afternoon his mistress inquired many times as to his whereabouts, and sent Aksiutka frequently to Akulina, who each time sent back word that Polikey had not yet returned, saying also that perhaps the merchant had kept him, or that something had happened to the mare.
Arriving at the foot of the ladder Polikey looked around him, and seeing no one about, he quickly ascended to the garret. Meanwhile the girl had reached her mistress's house. "What does it mean that Polikey does not come?" said the noblewoman impatiently. "Where can he be? Why does he not come at once?" Aksiutka flew again to his house and demanded to see Polikey.
As soon as Aksiutka had delivered her message she left the room in the same abrupt manner in which she had entered. Akulina, without saying a word, got up and brought her husband's boots to him. They were poor, worn-out things which some soldier had given him, and his wife did not glance at him as she handed them to him. "Are you going to change your shirt, Illitch?" she asked, at last.
The kind-hearted and merciful woman, remembering the peasant's repentance, refused to grant the superintendent's request, and told him he must take some other man in his stead. One evening Polikey was sitting on his bed beside the table, preparing some medicine for the cattle, when suddenly the door was thrown wide open, and Aksiutka, a young girl from the court, rushed in.
Suddenly a dark shadow crossed the window, and a minute later the girl Aksiutka quickly entered the room, exclaiming: "The boyarinia commands you, Polikey Illitch, to come to her this moment!" Polikey looked first at Akulina and then at the girl. "This moment!" he cried. "What more is wanted?"
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