“Varvarushka，ifyouwantanythingoutoftheshop，“hesaidaffectionately，“takeit，mydear。Takeitandwelcome；don’thesitate。“
Andthenextdaythedeafman，runningacrosstheyard，calledtoher:
“Ifthereisanythingyouwant，mother，takeit。“
Therewassomethingnew，somethinggayandlight-heartedinhergivingofalms，justastherewasinthelampsbeforetheikonsandintheredflowers。WhenatCarnivaloratthechurchfestival，whichlastedforthreedays，theysoldthepeasantstaintedsaltmeat，smellingsostrongitwashardtostandnearthetubofit，andtookscythes，caps，andtheirwives’kerchiefsinpledgefromthedrunkenmen；whenthefactoryhandsstupefiedwithbadvodkalayrollinginthemud，andsinseemedtohoverthicklikeafogintheair，thenitwasarelieftothinkthatupthereinthehousetherewasagentle，neatlydressedwomanwhohadnothingtodowithsaltmeatorvodka；hercharityhadinthoseburdensome，murkydaystheeffectofasafetyvalveinamachine。
ThedaysinTsybukin’shousewerespentinbusinesscares。BeforethesunhadriseninthemorningAksinyawaspantingandpuffingasshewashedintheouterroom，andthesamovarwasboilinginthekitchenwithahumthatbodednogood。OldGrigoryPetrovitch，dressedinalongblackcoat，cottonbreechesandshinytopboots，lookingadapperlittlefigure，walkedabouttherooms，tappingwithhislittleheelslikethefather-in-lawinawell-knownsong。Theshopwasopened。Whenitwasdaylightaracingdroshkywasbroughtuptothefrontdoorandtheoldmangotjauntilyontoit，pullinghisbigcapdowntohisears；and，lookingathim，noonewouldhavesaidhewasfifty-six。Hiswifeanddaughter-in-lawsawhimoff，andatsuchtimeswhenhehadonagood，cleancoat，andhadinthedroshkyahugeblackhorsethathadcostthreehundredroubles，theoldmandidnotlikethepeasantstocomeuptohimwiththeircomplaintsandpetitions；