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.