Page:Tolstoy - Tales from Tolstoi.djvu/266

Tales from Tolstoi Michael obeyed at once. He took the gentleman's wares, spread them out on the table, folded them in two, took his knife, and began to cut out.

Matrena came forward and watched Michael cutting out, and she was amazed at the way in which Michael did it. Matrena was already used to the sight of cobbler's work, and she looked and saw that Michael did not cut out as cobblers are wont to do, but cut it out in a circle. Matrena would have liked to have spoken, but she thought: "Maybe I don't understand how gentlemen's boots ought to be cut out. No doubt Michael knows better than I. I won't interfere."

Michael had now cut out the leather for a pair of boots, and he took up the ends and began to stitch, not as cobblers do so as to have two ends, but with one end as is the way of those who make shoes for the dead.

Matrena was amazed at this also, but even now she didn't interfere. Michael went on sewing. It began to get dark, Simon got up and looked. Out of the gentleman's leather Michael had stitched together bosoviki.

Simon sighed: "How is it," thought he, "that Michael who has been working with us for a whole year without making a mistake, has now done us this mischief? The gentleman bespoke heavily soled boots, and he has stitched bosoviki, which are sole-less. He has spoiled the leather. What shall I now say to the gentleman? One can't get stuff like that here."

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