Chapter 38 - Page 2

he hoped he would be able to tell her all he felt, and that she
would understand him.

'Why did you not tell me sooner?' said Beletski. 'I would have got
Ustenka to arrange it for you. You are such a queer fellow! ...'

'What's to be done! ... Some day, very soon, I'll tell you all
about it. Only now, for Heaven's sake, arrange so that she should
come to Ustenka's.'

'All right, that's easily done! Well, Maryanka, will you belong to
the "fair-faced lad", and not to Lukashka?' said Beletski,
speaking to Maryanka first for propriety's sake, but having
received no reply he went up to Ustenka and begged her to bring
Maryanka home with her. He had hardly time to finish what he was
saying before the leader began another song and the girls started
pulling each other round in the ring by the hand.

They sang:

"Past the garden, by the garden,
A young man came strolling down,
Up the street and through the town.
And the first time as he passed
He did wave his strong right hand.
As the second time he passed
Waved his hat with silken band.
But the third time as he went
He stood still: before her bent.

"How is it that thou, my dear,
My reproaches dost not fear?
In the park don't come to walk
That we there might have a talk?
Come now, answer me, my dear,
Dost thou hold me in contempt?
Later on, thou knowest, dear,
Thou'lt get sober and repent.
Soon to woo thee I will come,
And when we shall married be
Thou wilt weep because of me!"

"Though I knew what to reply,
Yet I dared not him deny,
No, I dared not him deny!
So into the park went I,
In the park my lad to meet,
There my dear one I did greet."

"Maiden dear, I bow to thee!
Take this handkerchief from me.
In thy white hand take it, see!
Say I am beloved by thee.
I don't know at all, I fear,
What I am to give thee, dear!
To my dear I think I will
Of a shawl a present make--
And five kisses for it take."'

Lukashka and Nazarka broke into the ring and started walking about
among the girls. Lukashka joined in the singing, taking seconds in
his clear voice as he walked in the middle of the ring swinging
his arms. 'Well, come in, one of you!' he said. The other girls
pushed Maryanka, but she would not enter the ring. The sound of
shrill laughter, slaps, kisses, and whispers mingled with the
singing.

As he went past Olenin, Lukashka gave a friendly nod.

'Dmitri Andreich! Have you too come to have a look?' he said.

'Yes,' answered Olenin dryly.

Beletski stooped and whispered something into Ustenka's ear. She
had not time to reply till she came round