"That's all she could do," was what many thought, and they began to separate. Akulína was still laughing, and talking nonsense. They led her into another room, cupped her, put on mustard-plasters, applied ice to her forehead; but all the time she did not understand it in the least, did not weep, but laughed, and said and did such things that the kind people who were waiting on her could not restrain themselves, but even laughed. [Footnote 17: _mámuska._] [Footnote 18: _fliger,_ peasant corruption of _flügel,_ the wing; the collection of izbás occupied by the _dvoróvui_ or domestic servants.] [Footnote 19: _stanovóï._] [Footnote 20: "The mistress, the mistress," or, "the gracious lady." _Bárin_ and _báruinya_ or _bárinya_ are the terms used by the domestics for the master and mistress.] XII. The festival was not gay at Pokrovskoé. Notwithstanding the fact that the day was beautiful, the people did not go out to enjoy themselves: the girls did not collect to sing songs: the factory-boys who came out from the city did not play the harmonica or on the _balaláïka;_[21] they did not jest with the girls. All sat around in the _corners;_ and if they talked, they talked quietly, as though some ill-disposed person were there, and might overhear them. All day nothing happened. But in the evening, as it grew dusk, the dogs began to howl: and, as though signifying some misfortune, a wind sprang up and howled in the chimneys; and such fear fell upon all the inhabitants of the _dvor,_ that those who had candles lighted them before, it was necessary; those who were alone in any _corner_ went to ask their neighbors to give them a night's lodging where there were more people; and whoever had to go to the stables did not go, and did not hesitate to leave the cattle without fodder that night. And the holy water, which every one keeps in a vial, was all that night in constant requisition. Many were sure that they heard, during the night, some one walking up and down with a heavy tread over the loft; and the blacksmith saw how a serpent flew straight to the loft. None of the family staid in Polikéï's _corner._ The children and the crazy woman had been carried to other quarters. The dead little baby lay there, however. And there were two old grandmothers and a pilgrim-woman[22] who diligently read the psalter, not for the sake of the child so much as for the solace of all this unhappiness. This was the mistress's desire. These old grandmothers and the pilgrim-woman themselves heard, while one portion of the psalter was read, how the beam above creaked, and some one groaned. When they read the words, "Let God rise up," the sounds ceased.