Chapter 30 - Page 2

'What should he say? He said he loved me. He kept asking me to
come to the vineyards with him.'

'Just see what pitch! But you didn't go, did you? And what a dare-
devil he has become: the first among the braves. He makes merry
out there in the army too! The other day our Kirka came home; he
says: "What a horse Lukashka's got in exchange!" But all the same
I expect he frets after you. And what else did he say?'

'Must you know everything?' said Maryanka laughing. 'One night he
came to my window tipsy, and asked me to let him in.' 'And you
didn't let him?'

'Let him, indeed! Once I have said a thing I keep to it firm as a
rock,' answered Maryanka seriously.

'A fine fellow! If he wanted her, no girl would refuse him.'

'Well, let him go to the others,' replied Maryanka proudly.

'You don't pity him?'

'I do pity him, but I'll have no nonsense. It is wrong.' Ustenka
suddenly dropped her head on her friend's breast, seized hold of
her, and shook with smothered laughter. 'You silly fool!' she
exclaimed, quite out of breath. 'You don't want to be happy,' and
she began tickling Maryanka. 'Oh, leave off!' said Maryanka,
screaming and laughing. 'You've crushed Lazutka.'

'Hark at those young devils! Quite frisky! Not tired yet!' came
the old woman's sleepy voice from the wagon.

'Don't want happiness,' repeated Ustenka in a whisper,
insistently. 'But you are lucky, that you are! How they love you!
You are so crusty, and yet they love you. Ah, if I were in your
place I'd soon turn the lodger's head! I noticed him when you were
at our house. He was ready to eat you with his eyes. What things
Grandad has given me! And yours they say is the richest of the
Russians. His orderly says they have serfs of their own.'

Maryanka raised herself, and after thinking a moment, smiled.

'Do you know what he once told me: the lodger I mean?' she said,
biting a bit of grass. 'He said, "I'd like to be Lukashka the
Cossack, or your brother Lazutka--." What do you think he meant?'

'Oh, just chattering what came into his head,' answered Ustenka.
'What does mine not say! Just as if he was possessed!'

Maryanka dropped her hand on her folded beshmet, threw her arm
over Ustenka's shoulder, and shut her eyes.

'He wanted to come and work in the vineyard to-day: father invited
him,' she said, and after a short silence she fell asleep.