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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 punishment； 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！〃
Polikey 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 round 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； w