In order to save the peasants from loss I began to give in to them here and there; helped one and spoke up for another. The village is like a glass house, where every one can look in, and so pretty soon Titoff said to me:
"You again wish to bribe God."
I decided to drop my work in the office and said to my wife:
"I earn six rubles a month, and with my birds I can make more."
But the poor child became sad. "Do whatever you want," she answered, "only let us not become beggars. I am sorry for my father," she added. "He wanted to do the best by us, and has taken many sins upon his soul for our sakes."
"Ah, my dear one," I thought, "his well-wishing weighs heavily enough on me."
Some days later I told my father-in-law that I was going to leave the office.
"To become a soldier?" he asked, smiling ironically.
I was hurt to the quick. I felt that he was ready to do anything against me, and it would not be difficult for him to harm me, considering who his acquaintances were. If I became a soldier I would be lost. Even for the love he bore his daughter he would not save me.
My hands became more and more tied. My wife wept in secret and went about with red eyes.