What people live by Author:Leo Tolstoy Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: III. Meanwhile Simon's wife had finished her housework early. She chopped the wood, fetched the water, fed the children, ate her own supper, and thought wheth... more »er she had better put the bread to rise to-day or to-morrow. There was still a large slice left. " If Simon dines at the village, he won't eat much supper, and there will be enough left for to-morrow." So, after looking at the bread, she concluded not to mix any to-day.There was only flour enough left for one more loaf. That would last till Friday. Matrona carried away the bread and seated herself at the table to patch her husband's shirt. As she sewed she thought about him — how he would buy the skins for the coat. " I am afraid the dealer will swindle him. He is so simple-minded. He would not cheat a fly, but any one can get the better of him. Eight roubles is not to be sneezed at. One can get a good coat for that. Although not of the best make, but still a fair one. How much we needed one last winter! One could neither go to the river, nor anywhere else. Whenever he goesout now he takes all the clothes, and I have nothing to wear. Well, he started out in good season, it's time he was home again. I am afraid he may get tipsy." Just then she heard the door-steps creak. Somebody had entered the vestibule. Matrona stuck her needle into her work and went out into the entry. Here she saw two men — Simon, and another man with him, hatless, and wearing felt boots. Matrona realized at once that something was wrong. " Just as I thought, he has had a spree." And when she saw him without a coat, with only her jacket on, and empty-handed, and sawthat he did not say anything, but only smiled, her heart gave a big throb. " He has squandered the money in liquor with this good-for-nothing man whom he has brought with him,...« less