had only just woke up. He noticed
everything, and having let the old men pass ahead he turned back to the
hut where Maryanka was preparing for bed. He went up to her and wished
to say something, but his voice broke. She moved away from him, sat
down cross-legged on her bed in the corner, and looked at him silently
with wild and frightened eyes. She was evidently afraid of him. Olenin
felt this. He felt sorry and ashamed of himself, and at the same time
proud and pleased that he aroused even that feeling in her.

'Maryanka!' he said. 'Will you never take pity on me? I can't tell you
how I love you.'

She moved still farther away.

'Just hear how the wine is speaking! ... You'll get nothing from me!'

'No, it is not the wine. Don't marry Lukashka. I will marry you.'
('What am I saying,' he thought as he uttered these words. 'Shall I be
able to say the same to-morrow?' 'Yes, I shall, I am sure I shall, and
I will repeat them now,' replied an inner voice.)

'Will you marry me?'

She looked at him seriously and her fear seemed to have passed.

'Maryanka, I shall go out of my mind! I am not myself. I will do
whatever you command,' and madly tender words came from his lips of
their own accord.

'Now then, what are you drivelling about?' she interrupted, suddenly
seizing the arm he was stretching towards her. She did not push his arm
away but pressed it firmly with her strong hard fingers. 'Do gentlemen
marry Cossack girls? Go away!'

'But will you? Everything...'

'And what shall we do with Lukashka?' said she, laughing.

He snatched away the arm she was holding and firmly embraced her young
body, but she sprang away like a fawn and ran barefoot into the porch:
Olenin came to his senses and was terrified at himself. He again felt
himself inexpressibly vile compared to her, yet not repenting for an
instant of what he had said he went home, and without even glancing at
the old men who were drinking in his room he lay down and fell asleep
more soundly than he had done for a long time.

Chapter XXXV

The next day was a holiday. In the evening all the villagers, their
holiday clothes shining in the sunset, were out in the street. That
season more wine than usual had been produced, and the people were now
free from their labours. In a month the Cossacks were to start on a
campaign and in many families preparations were being made for weddings.

Most of the people were standing in the square in front of the