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

Chapter XXXI

The sun had come out from behind the pear-tree that had shaded the
wagon, and even through the branches that Ustenka had fixed up it
scorched the faces of the sleeping girls. Maryanka woke up and began
arranging the kerchief on her head. Looking about her, beyond the
pear-tree she noticed their lodger, who with his gun on his shoulder
stood talking to her father. She nudged Ustenka and smilingly pointed
him out to her.

'I went yesterday and didn't find a single one,' Olenin was saying as
he looked about uneasily, not seeing Maryanka through the branches.

'Ah, you should go out there in that direction, go right as by
compasses, there in a disused vineyard denominated as the Waste, hares
are always to be found,' said the cornet, having at once changed his
manner of speech.

'A fine thing to go looking for hares in these busy times! You had
better come and help us, and do some work with the girls,' the old
woman said merrily. 'Now then, girls, up with you!' she cried.

Maryanka and Ustenka under the cart were whispering and could hardly
restrain their laughter.

Since it had become known that Olenin had given a horse worth fifty
rubles to Lukashka, his hosts had become more amiable and the cornet in
particular saw with pleasure his daughter's growing intimacy with
Olenin. 'But I don't know how to do the work,' replied Olenin, trying
not to look through the green branches under the wagon where he had now
noticed Maryanka's blue smock and red kerchief.

'Come, I'll give you some peaches,' said the old woman.

'It's only according to the ancient Cossack hospitality. It's her old
woman's silliness,' said the cornet, explaining and apparently
correcting his wife's words. 'In Russia, I expect, it's not so much
peaches as pineapple jam and preserves you have been accustomed to eat
at your pleasure.'

'So you say hares are to be found in the disused vineyard?' asked
Olenin. 'I will go there,' and throwing a hasty glance through the
green branches he raised his cap and disappeared between the regular
rows of green vines.

The sun had already sunk behind the fence of the vineyards, and its
broken rays glittered through the translucent leaves when Olenin
returned to his host's vineyard. The wind was falling and a cool
freshness was beginning to spread around. By some instinct Olenin
re