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Polikey still sat on the bed in his corner, glaring wildly about him,
and smiling bitterly. He did not reply for a long time, and Akulina
again cried:
"
Eh? Illitch! Why don't you answer me? Why don't you speak?"
Finally he said: "Akulina, I delivered the money to our mistress; and
oh, how she thanked me!" Then he suddenly looked about him, with an
anxious, startled air, and with a sad smile on his lips. Two things in
the room seemed to engross the most of his attention: the baby in the
cradle, and the rope which was attached to the ladder. Approaching the
cradle, he began with his thin fingers quickly to untie the knot in the
rope by which the two were connected. After untying it he stood for a
few moments looking silently at the baby.
Akulina did not notice this proceeding, and with her cakes on the board
went to place them in a corner.
Polikey quickly hid the rope beneath his coat, and again seated himself
on the bed.
"
What is it that troubles you, Illitch?" inquired Akulina. "You are not
yourself."
"
I have not slept," he answered.
272
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