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CHAPTER VI.
The whole day passed without any one in the village of Pokrovski having
seen anything of Polikey. During the afternoon his mistress inquired
many times as to his whereabouts, and sent Aksiutka frequently to
Akulina, who each time sent back word that Polikey had not yet returned,
saying also that perhaps the merchant had kept him, or that something
had happened to the mare.
His poor wife felt a heavy load upon her heart, and was scarcely able to
do her housework and put everything in order for the next day (which was
to be a holy-day). The children also anxiously awaited their father's
appearance, and, though for different reasons, could hardly restrain
their impatience. The noblewoman and Akulina were concerned only in
regard to Polikey himself, while the children were interested most in
what he would bring them from the town.
The only news received by the villagers during the day concerning
Polikey was to the effect that neighboring peasants had seen him running
up and down the road and asking every one he met if he or she had found
an envelope.
One of them had seen him also walking by the side of his tired-out
horse. "I thought," said he, "that the man was drunk, and had not fed
his horse for two days--the animal looked so exhausted."
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