Once when he had got drunk at home, Nikita, probably to make up for his submissiveness when sober, broke open her box, took out her best clothes, snatched up an axe, and chopped all her undergarments and dresses to bits. All the wages Nikita earned went to his wife, and he raised no objection to that. So now, two days before the holiday, Martha had been twice to see Vasili Andreevich and had got from him wheat flour, tea, sugar, and a quart of vodka, the lot costing three roubles, and also five roubles in cash, for which she thanked him as for a special favour, though he owed Nikita at least twenty roubles.

‘What agreement did we ever draw up with you?’ said Vasili Andreevich to Nikita.

‘If you need anything, take it; you will work it off. I’m not like others to