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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
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