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Title: Polikushka
Author: Leo Tolstoy
Date: 1862
Language: en
Topics: fiction
Source: Retrieved on 9th June 2021 from https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Ivan_the_Fool_(Collection)/%22Polikushka%22
Notes: Translated by Adolphus Norraikow

Leo Tolstoy

Polikushka

CHAPTER I.

Polikey was a court man—one of the staff of servants belonging to the

court household of a boyarinia (lady of the nobility).

He held a very insignificant position on the estate, and lived in a

rather poor, small house with his wife and children.

The house was built by the deceased nobleman whose widow he still

continued to serve, and may be described as follows: The four walls

surrounding the one izba (room) were built of stone, and the interior

was ten yards square. A Russian stove stood in the centre, around which

was a free passage. Each corner was fenced off as a separate inclosure

to the extent of several feet, and the one nearest to the door (the

smallest of all) was known as “Polikey’s corner.” Elsewhere in the room

stood the bed (with quilt, sheet, and cotton pillows), the cradle (with

a baby lying therein), and the three-legged table, on which the meals

were prepared and the family washing was done. At the latter also

Polikey was at work on the preparation of some materials for use in his

profession—that of an amateur veterinary surgeon. A calf, some hens, the

family clothes and household utensils, together with seven persons,

filled the little home to the utmost of its capacity. It woiild indeed

have been almost impossible for them to move around had it not been for

the convenience of the stove, on which some of them slept at night, and

which served as a table in the day-time.

It seemed hard to realize how so many persons managed to live in such

close quarters.

Polikey’s wife, Akulina, did the washing, spun and wove, bleached her

linen, cooked and baked, and found time also to quarrel and gossip with

her neighbors.

The monthly allowance of food which they received from the noblewoman’s

house was amply sufficient for the whole family, and there was always

enough meal left to make mash for the cow. Their fuel they got free, and

likewise the food for the cattle. In addition they were given a small

piece of land on which to raise vegetables. They had a cow, a calf, and

a number of chickens to care for.

Polikey was employed in the stables to take care of two stallions, and,

when necessary, to bleed the horses and cattle and clean their hoofs.

In his treatment of the animals he used syringes, plasters, and various

other remedies and appliances of his own invention. For these services

he received whatever provisions were required by his family, and a

certain sum of money—all of which would have been sufficient to enable

them to live comfortably and even happily, if their hearts had not been

filled with the shadow of a great sorrow.

This shadow darkened the lives of the entire family.

Polikey, while young, was employed in a horse-breeding establishment in

a neighboring village. The head stableman was a notorious horse-thief,

known far and wide as a great rogue, who, for his many misdeeds, was

finally exiled to Siberia. Under his instruction Polikey underwent a

course of training, and, being but a boy, was easily induced to perform

many evil deeds. He became so expert in the various kinds of wickedness

practised by his teacher that, though he many times would gladly have

abandoned his evil ways, he could not, owing to the great hold these

early-formed habits had upon him. His father and mother died when he was

but a child, and he had no one to point out to him the paths of virtue.

In addition to his other numerous shortcomings, Polikey was fond of

strong drink. He also had a habit of appropriating other people’s

property, when the opportunity offered of his doing so without being

seen. Collar-straps, padlocks, perch-bolts, and things even of greater

value belonging to others found their way with remarkable rapidity and

in great quantities to Polikey’s home. He did not, however, keep such

things for his own use, but sold them whenever he could find a

purchaser. His payment consisted chiefly of whiskey, though sometimes he

received cash.

This sort of employment, as his neighbors said, was both light and

profitable; it required neither education nor labor. It had one

drawback, however, which was calculated to reconcile his victims to

their losses: Though he could for a time have all his needs supplied

without expending either labor or money, there was always the

possibility of his methods being discovered; and this result was sure to

be followed by a long term of imprisonment. This impending danger made

life a burden for Polikey and his family.

Such a setback indeed very nearly happened to Polikey early in his

career. He married while still yoimg, and God gave him much happiness.

His wife, who was a shepherd’s daughter, was a strong, intelligent,

hard-working woman. She bore him many children, each of whom was said to

be better than the preceding one.

Polikey still continued to steal, but once was caught with some small

articles belonging to others in his possession. Among them was a pair of

leather reins, the property of another peasant, who beat him severely

and reported him to his mistress.

From that time on Polikey was an object of suspicion, and he was twice

again detected in similar escapades. By this time the people began to

abuse him, and the clerk of the court threatened to recruit him into the

army as a soldier (which is regarded by the peasants as a great

punishment and disgrace). His noble mistress severely reprimanded him;

his wife wept from grief for his downfall, and everything went from bad

to worse.

Polikey, notwithstanding his weakness, was a good-natured sort of man,

but his love of strong drink had so overcome every moral instinct that

at times he was scarcely responsible for his actions. This habit he

vainly endeavored to overcome. It often happened that when he returned

home intoxicated, his wife, losing all patience, roundly cursed him and

cruelly beat him. At times he would cry like a child, and bemoan his

fate, saying: “Unfortunate man that I am, what shall I do? Let my eyes

burst into pieces if I do not forever give up the vile habit! I will not

again touch vodki.”

In spite of all his promises of reform, but a short period (perhaps a

month) would elapse when Polikey would again mysteriously disappear from

his home and be lost for several days on a spree.

“From what source does he get the money he spends so freely?” the

neighbors inquired of each other, as they sadly shook their heads.

One of his most imfortunate exploits in the matter of stealing was in

connection with a clock which belonged to the estate of his mistress.

The clock stood in the private office of the noblewoman, and was so old

as to have outlived its usefulness, and was simply kept as an heirloom.

It so happened that Polikey went into the office one day when no one was

present but himself, and, seeing the old clock, it seemed to possess a

peculiar fascination for him, and he speedily transferred it to his

person. He carried it to a town not far from the village, where he very

readily found a purchaser.

As if purposely to secure his pimishment, it happened that the

storekeeper to whom he sold it proved to be a relative of one of the

court servants, and who, when he visited his friend on the next holiday,

related all about his purchase of the clock.

An investigation was immediately instituted, and all the details of

Polikey’s transaction were brought to light and reported to his noble

mistress. He was called into her presence, and, when confronted with the

story of the theft, broke down and confessed all. He fell on his knees

before the noblewoman and plead with her for mercy. The kind-hearted

lady lectured him about God, the salvation of his soul, and his future

life. She talked to him also about the misery and disgrace he brought

upon his family, and altogether so worked upon his feelings that he

cried like a child. In conclusion his kind mistress said: “I will

forgive you this time on the condition that you promise faithfully to

reform, and never again to take what does not belong to you.”

Polikey, still weeping, replied: “I will never steal again in all my

life, and if I break my promise may the earth open and swallow me up,

and let my body be burned with red-hot irons!”

Роliкеу returned to his home, and throwing himself on the oven spent the

entire day weeping and repeating the promise made to his mistress.

From that time on he was not again caught stealing, but his life became

extremely sad, for he was regarded with suspicion by every one and

pointed to as a thief.

When the time came around for securing recruits for the army, all the

peasants singled out Polikey as the first to be taken. The

superintendent was especially anxious to get rid of him, and went to his

mistress to induce her to have him sent away. 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.

CHAPTER II.

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. Almost out

of breath, she said: “My mistress has ordered you, Polikey Illitch [son

of Ilia], to come up to the court at once!”

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.”

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.

“No,” replied Polikey.

Akulina did not once look at him all the time he was putting on his

boots and preparing to go to the court. Perhaps, after all, it was

better that she did not do so. His face was very pale and his lips

trembled. He slowly combed his hair and was about to depart without

saying a word, when his wife stopped him to arrange the ribbon on his

shirt, and, after toying a little with his coat, she put his hat on for

him and he left the little home.

Polikey’s next-door neighbors were a joiner and his wife. A thin

partition only separated the two families, and each could hear what the

other said and did. 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. Akulina and the woman had quarrelled that morning about some

trifling thing done by one of Polikey’s children, and it afforded her

the greatest pleasure to learn that her neighbor had been summoned into

the presence of his noble mistress. She looked upon such a circumstance

as a bad omen. 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?”

Poor Akulina, on hearing the joiner’s wife talking so unkindly of her

husband, could hardly suppress the tears, and, the tirade continuing,

she at last became angry, and wished she could in some way punish her.

Forgetting her neighbor’s unkindness, her thoughts soon turned in

another direction, and glancing at her sleeping children she said to

herself that they might soon be orphans and she herself a soldier’s

widow. This thought greatly distressed her, and burying her face in her

hands she seated herself on the bed, where several of her progeny were

fast asleep. Presently a little voice interrupted her meditations by

crying out, “Mamushka [little mother], you are crushing me,” and the

child pulled her nightdress from under her mother’s arms.

Akulina, with her head still resting on her hands, said: “Perhaps it

would be better if we all should die. I only seem to have brought you

into the world to suffer sorrow and misery.”

Unable longer to control her grief, she burst into violent weeping,

which served to increase the amusement of the joiner’s wife, who had not

forgotten the morning’s squabble, and she laughed loudly at her

neighbor’s woe.

CHAPTER III.

About half an hour had passed when the youngest child began to cry and

Akulina arose to feed it She had by this time ceased to weep, and after

feeding the infant she again fell into her old position, with her face

buried in her hands. She was very pale, but this only increased her

beauty. After a time she raised her head, and staring at the burning

candle she began to question herself as to why she had married, and as

to the reason that the Czar required so many soldiers.

Presently she heard steps outside, and knew that her husband was

returning. She hurriedly wiped away the last traces of her tears as she

arose to let him pass into the centre of the room.

Polikey made his appearance with a look of triumph on his face, threw

his hat on the bed, and hastily removed his coat; but not a word did he

utter.

Akulina, unable to restrain her impatience, asked, “Well, what did she

want with you?”

“Pshaw!” he replied, “it is very well known that Polikushka is

considered the worst man in the village; but when it comes to business

of importance, who is selected then? Why, Polikushka, of course.”

“What kind of business?” Akulina timidly inquired.

But Polikey was in no hurry to answer her question. He lighted his pipe

with a very imposing air, and spit several times on the floor before he

replied.

Still retaining his pompous manner, he said, “She has ordered me to go

to a certain, merchant in the town and collect a considerable sum of

money.”

“You to collect money?” questioned Akulina.

Polikey only shook his head and smiled significantly, saying:

“‘You,’ the mistress said to me, ‘are a man resting under a grave

suspicion—a man who is considered unsafe to trust in any capacity; but I

have faith in you, and will intrust you with this important business of

mine in preference to any one else.’”

Polikey related all this in a loud voice, so that his neighbor might

hear what he had to say.

“‘You promised me to reform,’ my noble mistress said to me, ‘and I will

be the first to show you how much faith I have in your promise. I want

you to ride into town, and, going to the principal merchant there,

collect a sum of money from him and bring it to me.’ I said to my

mistress: ‘Everything you order shall be done. I will only too gladly

obey your slightest wish.’ Then my mistress said: ‘Do you understand,

Polikey, that your future lot depends upon the faithful performance of

this duty I impose upon you?’ I replied: ‘Yes, I understand everything,

and feel that I will succeed in performing acceptably any task which you

may impose upon me. I have been accused of every kind of evil deed that

it is possible to charge a man with, but I have never done anything

seriously wrong against you, your honor.’ In this way I talked to our

mistress until I succeeded in convincing her that my repentance was

sincere, and she became greatly softened toward me, saying, ‘If you are

successful I will give you the first place at the court.’”

“And how much money are you to collect?” inquired Akulina.

“Fifteen hundred rubles,” carelessly answered Polikey.

Akulina sadly shook her head as she asked, “When are you to start?”

“She ordered me to leave here to-morrow,” Polikey replied. ‘Take any

horse you please,’ she said. ‘Come to the office, and I will see you

there and wish you God-speed on your journey.’”

“Glory to Thee, О 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. Take an oath before God, and kiss the cross,

so that I may be sure that you will not break yoiir promise!”

Polikey replied in most contemptuous tones: “Do you think I will dare to

touch vodki when I shall have such a large sum of money in my сагre?”

“Akulina, have a clean shirt ready for the morning,” were his parting

words for the night.

So Polikey and his wife went to sleep in a happy frame of mind and full

of bright dreams for the future.

CHAPTER IV.

Very early the next morning, almost before the stars had hidden

themselves from view, there was seen standing before Polikey’s home a

low wagon, the same in which the superintendent himself used to ride;

and harnessed to it was a large-boned, dark-brown mare, called for some

unknown reason by the name of Baraban (drum). Aniutka, Polikey’s eldest

daughter, in spite of the heavy rain and the cold wind which was

blowing, stood outside barefooted and held (not without some fear) the

reins in one hand, while with the other she endeavored to keep her green

and yellow overcoat wound around her body, and also to hold Polikey’s

sheepskin coat.

In the house there were the greatest noise and confusion. The morning

was still so dark that the little daylight there was failed to penetrate

through the broken panes of glass, the window being stuffed in many

places with rags and paper to exclude the cold air.

Akulina ceased from her cooking for a while and helped to get Polikey

ready for the journey. Most of the children were still in bed, very

likely as a protection against the cold, for Akulina had taken away the

big overcoat which usually covered them and had substituted a shawl of

her own. Polikey’s shirt was all ready, nice and clean, but his shoes

badly needed repairing, and this fact caused his devoted wife much

anxiety. She took from her own feet the thick woollen stockings she was

wearing, and gave them to Polikey. She then began to repair his shoes,

patching up the holes so as to protect his feet from dampness.

While this was going on he was sitting on the side of the bed with his

feet dangling over the edge, and trying to turn the sash which confined

his coat at the waist. He was anxious to look as clean as possible, and

he declared his sash looked like a dirty rope.

One of his daughters, enveloped in a sheepskin coat, was sent to a

neighbor’s house to borrow a hat.

Within Polikey’s home the greatest confusion reigned, for the court

servants were constantly arriving with innumerable small orders which

they wished Polikey to execute for them in town. One wanted needles,

another tea, another tobacco, and last came the joiner’s wife, who by

this time had prepared her samovar, and, anxious to make up the quarrel

of the previous day, brought the traveller a cup of tea.

Neighbor Nikita refused the loan of the hat, so the old one had to be

patched up for the occasion. This occupied some time, as there were many

holes in it.

Finally Polikey was all ready, and jumping on the wagon started on his

journey, after first making the sign of the cross.

At the last moment his little boy, Mishka, ran to the door, begging to

be given a short ride; and then his little daughter, Mashka, appeared on

the scene and pleaded that she, too, might have a ride, declaring that

she would be quite warm enough without furs.

Polikey stopped the horse on hearing the children, and Akulina placed

them in the wagon, together with two others belonging to a neighbor—all

anxious to have a short ride.

As Akulina helped the little ones into the wagon she took occasion to

remind Polikey of the solemn promise he had made her not to touch a drop

of vodki during the journey.

Polikey drove the children as far as the blacksmith’s place, where he

let them out of the wagon, telling them they must return home. He then

arranged his clothing, and, setting his hat firmly on his head, started

his horse on a trot.

The two children, Mishka and Mashka, both barefooted, started running at

such a rapid pace that a strange dog from another village, seeing them

flying over the road, dropped his tail between his legs and ran home

squealing.

The weather was very cold, a sharp cutting wind blowing continuously;

but this did not disturb Polikey, whose mind was engrossed with pleasant

thoughts. As he rode through the wintry blasts he kept repeating to

himself: “So I am the man they wanted to send to Siberia, and whom they

threatened to enroll as a soldier—the same man whom every one abused,

and said he was lazy, and who was pointed out as a thief and given the

meanest work on the estate to do! Now I am going to receive a large sum

of money, for which my mistress is sending me because she trusts me. I

am also riding in the same wagon that the superintendent himself uses

when he is riding as a representative of the court. I have the same

harness, leather horse-collar, reins, and all the other gear.”

Polikey, filled with pride at thought of the mission with which he had

been intrusted, drew himself up with an air of pride, and, fixing his

old hat more firmly on his head, buttoned his coat tightly about him and

urged his horse to greater speed.

“Just to think,” he continued; “I shall have in my possession three

thousand half-rubles [the peasant manner of speaking of money so as to

make it appear a larger sum than it really is], and will carry them in

my bosom. If I wished to I might run away to Odessa instead of taking

the money to my mistress. But no; I will not do that. I will surely

carry the money straight to the one who has been kind enough to trust

me.”

When Polikey reached the first kabak (tavern) he found that from long

habit the mare was naturally turning her head toward it; but he would

not allow her to stop, though money had been given him to purchase both

food and drink. Striking the animal a sharp blow with the whip, he

passed by the tavern. The performance was repeated when he reached the

next kabak, which looked very inviting; but he resolutely set his face

against entering, and passed on.

About noon he arrived at his destination, and getting down from the

wagon approached the gate of the merchant’s house where the servants of

the court always stopped. Opening it he led the mare through, and (after

unharnessing her) fed her. This done, he next entered the house and had

dinner with the merchant’s workingmen, and to them he related what an

important mission he had been sent on, making himself very amusing by

the pompous air which he assumed. Dinner over, he carried a letter to

the merchant which the noblewoman had given him to deliver.

The merchant, knowing thoroughly the reputation which Polikey bore, felt

doubtful of trusting him with so much money, and somewhat anxiously

inquired if he really had received orders to carry so many rubles.

Polikey tried to appear offended at this question, but did not succeed,

and he only smiled.

The merchant, after reading the letter a second time and being convinced

that all was right, gave Polikey the money, which he put in his bosom

for safe-keeping.

On his way to the house he did not once stop at any of the shops he

passed. The clothing establishments possessed no attractions for him,

and after he had safely passed them all he stood for a moment, feeling

very pleased that he had been able to withstand temptation, and then

went on his way.

“I have money enough to buy up everything,” he said; “but I will not do

so.”

The numerous commissions which he had received compelled him to go to

the bazaar. There he bought only what had been ordered, but he could not

resist the temptation to ask the price of a very handsome sheep-skin

coat which attracted his attention. The merchant to whom he spoke looked

at Polikey and smiled, not believing that he had sufficient money to

purchase such an expensive coat. But Polikey, pointing to his breast,

said that he could buy out the whole shop if he wished to. He thereupon

ordered the shop-keeper to take his measure. He tried the coat on and

looked himself over carefully, testing the quality and blowing upon the

hair to see that none of it came out. Finally, heaving a deep sigh, he

took it off.

“The price is too high,” he said. “If you could let me have it for

fifteen rubles—”

But the merchant cut him short by snatching the coat from him and

throwing it angrily to one side.

Polikey left the bazaar and returned to the merchant’s house in high

spirits.

After supper he went out and fed the mare, and prepared everything for

the night. Returning to the house he got up on the stove to rest, and

while there he took out the envelope which contained the money and

looked long and earnestly at it. He could not read, but asked one of

those present to tell him what the writing on the envelope meant. It was

simply the address and the announcement that it contained fifteen

hundred rubles.

The envelope was made of common paper and was sealed with dark-brown

sealing wax. There was one large seal in the centre and four smaller

ones at the corners. Polikey continued to examine it carefully, even

inserting his finger till he touched the crisp notes. He appeared to

take a childish delight in having so much money in his possession.

Having finished his examination, he put the envelope inside the lining

of his old battered hat, and placing both under his head he went to

sleep; but during the night he frequently awoke and always felt to know

if the money was safe. Each time that he found that it was safe he

rejoiced at the thought that he, Polikey, abused and regarded by every

one as a thief, was intrusted with the care of such a large sum of

money, and also that he was about to return with it quite as safely as

the superintendent himself could have done.

CHAPTER V.

Before dawn the next morning Polikey was up, and after harnessing the

mare and looking in his hat to see that the money was all right, he

started on his return journey.

Many times on the way Polikey took off his hat to see that the money was

safe. Once he said to himself, “I think that perhaps it would be better

if I should put it in my bosom.” This would necessitate the imtying of

his sash, so he decided to keep it still in his hat, or until he should

have made half the journey, when he would be compelled to stop to feed

his horse and to rest.

He said to himself: “The lining is not sewn in very strongly and the

envelope might fall out, so I think I had better not take off my hat

until I reach home.”

The money was safe—at least, so it seemed to him—and he began to think

how grateful his mistress would be to him, and in his excited

imagination he saw the five rubles he was so sure of receiving.

Once more he examined the hat to see that the money was safe, and

finding everything all right he put on his hat and pulled it well down

over his ears, smiling all the while at his own thoughts.

Akulina had carefully sewed all the holes in the hat, but it burst out

in other places owing to Polikey’s removing it so often.

In the darkness he did not notice the new rents, and tried to push the

envelope further under the lining, and in doing so pushed one corner of

it through the plush.

The sun was getting high in the heavens, and Polikey having slept but

little the previous night and feeling its warm rays fell fast asleep,

after first pressing his hat more firmly on his head. By this action he

forced the envelope still further through the plush, and as he rode

along his head bobbed up and down.

Polikey did not awake till he arrived near his own house, and his first

act was to put his hand to his head to learn if his hat was all right.

Finding that it was in its place, he did not think it necessary to

examine it and see that the money was safe. Touching the mare gently

with the whip she started into a trot, and as he rode along he arranged

in his own mind how much he was to receive. With the air of a man

already holding a high position at the court, he looked around him with

an expression of lofty scorn on his face.

As he neared his house he could see before him the one room which

constituted their humble home, and the joiner’s wife next door carrying

her rolls of linen. He saw also the office of the court and his

mistress’s house, where he hoped he would be able presently to prove

that he was an honest, trustworthy man.

He reasoned with himself that any person can bе abused by lying tongues,

but when his mistress would see him she would say: “Well done, Polikey;

you have shown that you can be honest. Here are three—it may be

five—perhaps ten—rubles for you;” and also she would order tea for him,

and might treat him to vodki—who knows? The latter thought gave him

great pleasure, as he was feeling very cold.

Speaking aloud he said: “What a happy holy-day we can have with ten

rubles! Having so much money, I could pay Nikita the four rubles fifty

kopecks which I owe him, and yet have some left to buy shoes for the

children.”

When near the house Polikey began to arrange his clothes, smoothing down

his fur collar, re-tying his sash, and stroking his hair. To do the

latter he had to take off his hat, and when doing so felt in the lining

for the envelope. Quicker and quicker he ran his hand around the lining,

and not finding the money used both hands, first one and then the other.

But the envelope was not to be found.

Polikey was by this time greatly distressed, and his face was white with

fear as he passed his hand through the crown of his old hat. Polikey

stopped the mare and began a diligent search through the wagon and its

contents. Not finding the precious envelope, he felt in all his

pockets—but the money could not be found!

Wildly clutching at his hair, he exclaimed: “Batiushka! What will I do

now? What will become of me?” At the same time he realized that he was

near his neighbors’ house and could be seen by them; so he turned the

mare around, and, pulling his hat down securely upon his head, he rode

quickly back in search of his lost treasure.

CHAPTER VI.

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 the mare.

His poor wife felt a heavy load upon her heart, and was scarcely able to

do her housework and put everything in order for the next day (which was

to be a holy-day). The children also anxiously awaited their father’s

appearance, and, though for different reasons, could hardly restrain

their impatience. The noblewoman and Akujina were concerned only in

regard to Polikey himself, while the children were interested most in

what he would bring them from the town.

The only news received by the villagers during the day concerning

Polikey was to the effect that neighboring peasants had seen him running

up and down the road and asking every one he met if he or she had found

an envelope.

One of them had seen him also walking by the side of his tired-out

horse. “I thought,” said he, “that the man was drunk, and had not fed

his horse for two days—the animal looked so exhausted.”

Unable to sleep, and with her heart palpitating at every sound, Akulina

lay awake all night vainly awaiting Polikey’s return. When the cock

crowed the third time she was obliged to get up to attend to the fire.

Day was just dawning and the church-bells had begun to ring. Soon all

the children were also up, but there was still no tidings of the missing

husband and father.

In the morning the chill blasts of winter entered their humble home, and

on looking out they saw that the houses, fields, and roads were thickly

covered with snow. The day was clear and cold, as if befitting the

holy-day they were about to celebrate. They were able to see a long

distance from the house, but no one was in sight.

Akulina was busy baking cakes, and had it not been for the joyous shouts

of the children she would not have known that Polikey was coming up the

road, for a few minutes later he came in with a bundle in his hand and

walked quietly to his corner. 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!” Then he suddenly looked about him, with an

anxious, startled air, and with a sad smile on his lips. Two things in

the room seemed to engross the most of his attention: the baby in the

cradle, and the rope which was attached to the ladder. Approaching the

cradle, he began with his thin fingers quickly to untie the knot in the

rope by which the two were connected. 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 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?”

He spoke the last sentence so softly that Akulina became quieted in her

mind, thinking that perhaps their mistress intended to reward her

husband.

“Say that I will come immediately,” he said. But Polikey failed to

follow the girl, and went instead to another place.

From the porch of his house there was a ladder reaching to the attic.

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.

“He went a long time ago,” answered Akulina, and looking around with an

expression of fear on her face, she added, “He may have fallen asleep

somewhere on the way.”

About this time the joiner’s wife, with hair unkempt and clothes

bedraggled, went up to the loft to gather the linen which she had

previously put there to dry. 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. With a loud

shriek she fell back as if dead, and would surely have been killed had

not one of the spectators succeeded in catching her in his arms.

Before dark the same day a peasant of the village, while returning from

the town, found the envelope containing Polikey’s money on the roadside,

and soon after delivered it to the boyarinia.