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 Olenin, and glanced
towards the oven. A pair of large, dark, and hostile eyes glittered as
they gazed severely at him.

He became ashamed of what he had said. 'What of it? He does no one any
harm,' suddenly remarked Maryanka. 'He makes merry with his own money,'
and lowering her legs she jumped down from the oven and went out
banging the door.

Olenin followed her with his eyes as long as she was in the hut, and
then looked at the door and waited, understanding nothing of what
Granny Ulitka was telling him.

A few minutes later some visitors arrived: an old man, Granny Ulitka's
brother, with Daddy Eroshka, and following them came Maryanka and
Ustenka.

'Good evening,' squeaked Ustenka. 'Still on holiday?' she added,
turning to Olenin.

'Yes, still on holiday,' he replied, and felt, he did not know why,
ashamed and ill at ease.

He wished to go away but could not. It also seemed to him impossible to
remain silent. The old man helped him by asking for a drink, and they
had a drink. Olenin drank with Eroshka, with the other Cossack, and
again with Eroshka, and the more he drank the heavier was his heart.
But the two old men grew merry. The girls climbed onto the oven, where
they sat whispering and looking at the men, who drank till it was late.
Olenin did not talk, but drank more than the others. The Cossacks were
shouting. The old woman would not let them have any more chikhir, and
at last turned them out. The girls laughed at Daddy Eroshka, and it was
past ten when they all went out into the porch. The old men invited
themselves to finish their merry-making at Olenin's. Ustenka ran off
home and Eroshka led the old Cossack to Vanyusha. The old woman went
out to tidy up the shed. Maryanka remained alone in the hut. Olenin
felt fresh and joyous, as if he