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Updated: May 7, 2025
Soon after Polikey's departure a woman was heard to say: "Well, Polikey Illitch, so your mistress has sent for you!" The voice was that of the joiner's wife on the other side of the partition.
The girl was standing and still breathing heavily from her late exertion as she continued: "Egor Mikhailovitch, the superintendent, has been to see our lady about having you drafted into the army, and, Polikey Illitch, your name was mentioned among others. Our lady has sent me to tell you to come up to the court immediately."
She continued talking to herself and said: "Perhaps she wants to send him to the town to make some purchases for her household. I did not suppose she would select such a faithful man as you are to perform such a service for her. If it should prove that she DOES want to send you to the next town, just buy me a quarter-pound of tea. Will you, Polikey Illitch?"
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.
Akulina noticed that he was very pale and that his face bore an expression of suffering as if he would like to have cried but could not do so. But she did not stop to study it, but excitedly inquired: "What! Illitch, is everything all right with you?" He slowly muttered something, but his wife could not understand what he said. "What!" she cried out, "have you been to see our mistress?"
Polikey still sat on the bed in his corner, glaring wildly about him, and smiling bitterly. He did not reply for a long time, and Akulina again cried: "Eh? Illitch! Why don't you answer me? Why don't you speak?" Finally he said: "Akulina, I delivered the money to our mistress; and oh, how she thanked me!"
"Glory to Thee, O Lord!" said Akulina, as she arose and made the sign of the cross. "God, I am sure, will bless you, Illitch," she added, in a whisper, so that the people on the other side of the partition could not hear what she said, all the while holding on to his sleeve. "Illitch," she cried at last, excitedly, "for God's sake promise me that you will not touch a drop of vodki.
After untying it he stood for a few moments looking silently at the baby. Akulina did not notice this proceeding, and with her cakes on the board went to place them in a corner. Polikey quickly hid the rope beneath his coat, and again seated himself on the bed. "What is it that troubles you, Illitch?" inquired Akulina. "You are not yourself." "I have not slept," he answered.
Suddenly a cry of horror was heard, and the woman, with her eyes closed, and crazed by fear, ran down the ladder like a cat. "Illitch," she cried, "has hanged himself!" Poor Akulina ran up the ladder before any of the people, who had gathered from the surrounding houses, could prevent her.
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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