Clotheswerehangingonlinesstretchedacrosstheyard；shesnatchedoffherpetticoatsandblousesstillwetandflungthemintothedeafman’sarms。Theninherfuryshedashedabouttheyardbythelinen，toredownallofit，andwhatwasnothersshethrewonthegroundandtrampledupon。
“HolySaints，takeheraway，“moanedVarvara。“Whatawoman！GiveherButyokino！Giveither，fortheLord’ssake！
“Well！Wha-atawoman！“peopleweresayingatthegate。“She’sawo-oman！She’sgoingit——somethinglike！“
Aksinyaranintothekitchenwherewashingwasgoingon。Lipawaswashingalone，thecookhadgonetotherivertorinsetheclothes。Steamwasrisingfromthetroughandfromthecaldrononthesideofthestove，andthekitchenwasthickandstiflingfromthesteam。Onthefloorwasaheapofunwashedclothes，andNikifor，kickinguphislittleredlegs，hadbeenputdownonabenchnearthem，sothatifhefellheshouldnothurthimself。
JustasAksinyawentinLipatooktheformer’schemiseoutoftheheapandputitinthetrough，andwasjuststretchingoutherhandtoabigladleofboilingwaterwhichwasstandingonthetable。