Dissatisfied with her behavior, they did not detain her.  She then obtained employment as servant in the house of the commissary of rural police, but was obliged to give up the position at the end of the third month, for the commissary, a fifty-year old man, pursued her with his attentions, and when, on one occasion, he became too persistent, she flared up, called him an old fool, and threw him to the ground.  Then she was driven from the house.  She was now so far advanced on the road to maternity that to look for a position was out of the question.  Hence she took lodgings with an old midwife, who was also a wine dealer.  The confinement came off painlessly.  But the midwife was attending a sick woman in the village, infected Katiousha with puerperal fever, and the child, a boy, was taken to a foundling asylum where, she was told, he died immediately after his arrival there.

When Katiousha took lodgings with the midwife she had 127 rubles; 27 rubles of which she had earned, and 100 rubles which had been given her by her seducer.  When she left her she had but six rubles left.  She was not economical, and spent on herself as well as others.  She paid 40 rubles to the midwife for two months’ board; 25 rubles it cost her to have the child taken away; 40 rubles the midwife borrowed of her to buy a cow with; the balance was spent on dresses, presents, etc., so that after the confinement she was practically penniless, and was compelled to look for a position.  She was soon installed in the house of a forester who was married, and who, like the commissary, began to pay court to her.  His wife became aware of it, and when, on one occasion, she found them both in the room, she fell on Katiousha and began to beat her.  The latter resented it, and the result was a scrimmage, after which she was driven out of the house, without being paid the wages due her.  Katiousha went to the city, where she stopped with her aunt.  Her aunt’s husband was a bookbinder.  Formerly he used to earn a competence, but had lost his customers, and was now given to drink, spending everything that came into his hands.

With the aid of a small laundry she was keeping, her aunt supported her children as well as her husband.  She offered Maslova work as a washerwoman, but seeing what a hard life the washerwomen at her aunt’s establishment were leading, she searched through the intelligence offices for a position as servant.  She found such a place with a lady who was living with her two student boys.  A week after she had entered upon her duties, the oldest son neglected his studies and made life miserable for Maslova.  The mother threw all blame upon Maslova and discharged her.  She was some time without any occupation.  In one of these intelligence offices she once met a lady richly dressed and adorned with diamonds.  This lady, learning of the condition of Maslova, who was looking for a position, gave her her card and invited her to call.  The lady received Maslova