She looked upon such a circumstance as a bad omen.

She continued talking to herself and said: "Perhaps she wants to send him to the town to make some purchases for her household.
I did not suppose she would select such a faithful man as you are to perform such a service for her.

If it should prove that she DOES want to send you to the next town, just buy me a quarter-pound of tea.

Will you, Polikey Illitch ?" Poor Akulina, on hearing the joiner's wife talking so unkindly of her husband, could hardly suppress the tears, and, the tirade continuing, she at last became angry, and wished she could in some way punish her.
Forgetting her neighbor's unkindness, her thoughts soon turned in another direction, and glancing at her sleeping children she said to herself that they might soon be orphans and she herself a soldier's widow.

This thought greatly distressed her, and burying her face in her hands she seated herself on the bed, where several of her progeny were fast asleep.