t deal, began to
distribute sweetmeats to the girls.

"I offer them to everyone!" he said with proud, comically pathetic
self-admiration. "But anyone who goes after soldiers goes out of the
ring!" he suddenly added, with an angry glance at Olenin.

The girls grabbed his sweetmeats from him, and, laughing, struggled for
them among themselves. Beletski and Olenin stepped aside.

Lukashka, as if ashamed of his generosity, took off his cap and wiping
his forehead with his sleeve came up to Maryanka and Ustenka.

"Answer me, my dear, dost thou hold me in contempt?" he said in the
words of the song they had just been singing, and turning to Maryanka
he angrily repeated the words: "Dost thou hold me in contempt? When we
shall married be thou wilt weep because of me!" he added, embracing
Ustenka and Maryanka both together.

Ustenka tore herself away, and swinging her arm gave him such a blow on
the back that she hurt her hand.

"Well, are you going to have another turn?" he asked.

"The other girls may if they like," answered Ustenka, "but I am going
home and Maryanka was coming to our house too."

With his arm still round her, Lukashka led Maryanka away from the crowd
to the darker corner of a house.

"Don't go, Maryanka," he said, "let's have some fun for the last time.
Go home and I will come to you!"

"What am I to do at home? Holidays are meant for merrymaking. I am
going to Ustenka's," replied Maryanka.

'I'll marry you all the same, you know!'

'All right,' said Maryanka, 'we shall see when the time comes.'

'So you are going,' said Lukashka sternly, and, pressing her close, he
kissed her on the cheek.

'There, leave off! Don't bother,' and Maryanka, wrenching herself from
his arms, moved away.

'Ah my girl, it will turn out badly,' said Lukashka reproachfully and
stood still, shaking his head. 'Thou wilt weep because of me...' and
turning away from her he shouted to the other girls:

'Now then! Play away!'

What he had said seemed to have frightened and vexed Maryanka. She
stopped, 'What will turn out badly?'

'Why, that!'

'That what?'

'Why, that you keep company with a soldier-lodger and no longer care
for me!'

'I'll care just as long as I choose. You're not my father, nor my
mother. What do you want? I'll care for whom I like!'

'Well, all right...' said Lukashka, 'but remember!' He moved towards
the shop. 'Girls!' he shouted, 'why have you stopped? Go on dancing.
Nazarka, fetch some m