"Well,"—said Akím, raising his head;—"has n't she come?"
"Yes, she has come,"—replied the old man.—"She 's standing at the gate...."
"Send her hither."
The old man went out, waved his hand to Avdótya, said to her: "Go along!" and sat down again himself on the earthen bank along the cottage wall. With trepidation Avdótya opened the door, crossed the threshold and paused....
Akím looked at her.
"Well, Aréfyevna,"—he began,—"what are we—thou and I—to do now?"
"Forgive me,"—she whispered.
"Ekh, Aréfyevna, we are all sinful folks. What 's the use of discussing it!"
"That villain has ruined both of us,"—began Avdótya in a voice which jingled and broke, and the tears streamed down her face.—"Thou must not let things stand as they are, Akím Semyónitch; thou must get the money from him. Do not spare me. I am ready to declare under oath that I lent the money to him. Lizavéta Prókhorovna had a right to sell our house, but why should he rob us?.... Get the money from him."
"I have no money to receive from him,"—replied Akím, gloomily.—"He and I have settled our accounts."