She sent me on unnecessary errands, she wanted me to be in
two places at the same time. She yelled, she cursed, she shook me,
and mauled me, she pulled me by the ears. She knew well how to make
one miserable. When night came, I went to sleep in the anteroom;
that was my bedroom. Anna was abed, but not asleep. Marusya had
long been asleep. Then Anna remembered that she had forgotten to
close the door leading to the anteroom, and she ordered me to get up
and close it. I made believe I was sleeping soundly, and began to
snore loudly. She kept on calling me, but I kept on snoring.
Suddenly I began to cry, as if from the sleep: "O mother, leave
Anna alone. She too is a mother! Pity her family!"
Anna became silent. I half opened my eyes and looked at her through
the open door. A candle was burning on the table near her bed, and
I could see that she was frightened, and was listening intently.
then I continued, somewhat differently: "I beg of you, mother, is
it her fault? Doesn't she feed me? Isn't she a mother too?"
Then I began to cry as if in my sleep.
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