Chapter 34

Late that evening, after writing this letter, Olenin went to his
hosts' hut. The old woman was sitting on a bench behind the oven
unwinding cocoons. Maryanka with her head uncovered sat sewing by
the light of a candle. On seeing Olenin she jumped up, took her
kerchief and stepped to the oven. 'Maryanka dear,' said her
mother, 'won't you sit here with me a bit?' 'No, I'm bareheaded,'
she replied, and sprang up on the oven. Olenin could only see a
knee, and one of her shapely legs hanging down from the oven. He
treated the old woman to tea. She treated her guest to clotted cream
which she sent Maryanka to fetch. But having put a plateful on the
table Maryanka again sprang on the oven from whence Olenin felt her
eyes upon him. They talked about household matters. Granny Ulitka
became animated and went into raptures of hospitality. She brought
Olenin preserved grapes and a grape tart and some of her best wine,
and pressed him to eat and drink with the rough yet proud hospitality
of country folk, only found among those who produce their bread by
the labour of their own hands. The old woman, who had at first struck
Olenin so much by her rudeness, now often touched him by her simple
tenderness towards her daughter.

'Yes, we need not offend the Lord by grumbling! We have enough of
everything, thank God. We have pressed sufficient CHIKHIR and have
preserved and shall sell three or four barrels of grapes and have
enough left to drink. Don't be in a hurry to leave us. We will
make merry together at the wedding.'

'And when is the wedding to be?' asked Olenin, feeling his blood
suddenly rush to his face while his heart beat irregularly and
painfully.

He heard a movement on the oven and the sound of seeds being
cracked.

'Well, you know, it ought to be next week. We are quite ready,'
replied the old woman, as simply and quietly as though Olenin did
not exist. 'I have prepared and have procured everything for
Maryanka. We will give her away properly. Only there's one thing
not quite right. Our Lukashka has been running rather wild. He has
been too much on the spree! He's up to tricks! The other day a
Cossack came here from his company and said he had been to Nogay.'

'He must mind he does not get caught,' said Olenin.

'Yes, that's what I tell him. "Mind, Lukashka, don't you get into
mischief. Well, of course, a young fellow naturally wants to cut a
dash. But there's a time for everything. Well, you've captured or
stolen something and killed an abrek! Well, you're a fine fellow!
But now you should live quietly for a bit, or else there'll be
trouble."'

'Yes, I saw him a time or two in the division, he was always
merry-making. He has sold another horse,' said