04-polikushka-第5节

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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。