Life in Ufa

This chapter details Aleksei Stepanych Bagrov and his wife Sofya Nikolavna's life in Ufa. Upon arriving, Sofya Nikolavna energetically began the task of organizing their living quarters. Just as before, she undertook the management of her father's household and looking after him, relegating the Kalmyk servant to a subordinate role of carrying out her instructions. However, the Kalmyk, who had always hated her, already felt secure enough in his position to declare open warfare on his new mistress. After doubling his attentions toward old man Zubin, he managed to offend his daughter, and especially her humble husband, with unbelievable cunning at every step. Meanwhile, Sofya Nikolavna arranged her life in Ufa society according to her own desires. She then became pregnant, which gave her father-in-law, Stepan Mikhailych Bagrov, great joy. Eventually, Aleksei Stepanych and Sofya Nikolavna moved to their own house to avoid the Kalmyk. Soon their life in Ufa followed an extremely predictable and monotonous course. The chapter then recounts Sofya Nikolavna's motherhood, the sudden death of her infant daughter, the death of her father, and, finally, the birth of her son.