trishka's caftan was out at the elbows. but why should he ponder long over it? he took to his needle, cut a quarter off each sleeve: so mended the elbows.

the caftan was all right again, only his arms were bare for a quarter of their length. that is no great matter, but every one is always laughing at trishka. so trishka says:

"i'm not a fool. i'll set this affair straight also. i'll make the sleeves longer than they were before. they shall see trishka is no mere commonplace fellow."

so he cut off the skirts of his caftan, and used them to lengthen his sleeves.

then trishka was happy, though he had a caftan which was as short as a waistcoat.

in a similar way i have sometimes seen other embarrassed people set straight their affairs. take a look at them as they dash away. they have all got on trishka's caftan.