olent gesture of a languorous cat, and with a
gesture of regret he started towards the cabin. Through her half-open
lids the young woman watched him as he moved away, and sighed as people
sigh when they have borne too heavy a burden.

* * * * *

Fifteen days later it was again Sunday and again Vassili Legostev,
stretched out on the sand near his hut, was gazing out to sea, waiting
for Malva. And the deserted sea laughed, playing with the reflections
of the sun, and legions of waves were born to run on the sand, deposit
the foam of their crests and return to the sea, where they melted.

All was as before. Only Vassili, who the last time awaited her coming
with peaceful security, was now filled with impatience. Last Sunday she
had not come; to-day she would surely come. He did not doubt it for a
moment, but he wanted to see her as soon as possible. Iakov, at least,
would not be there to embarrass them. The day before yesterday, as he
passed with the other fishermen, he said he would go to town on Sunday
to buy a blouse. He had found work at fifteen roubles a month.

Except for the gulls, the sea was still deserted. The familiar little
black spot did not appear,

"Ah, you're not coming!" said Vassili, with ill humor. "All right,
don't. I don't want you."

And he spat with disdain in the direction of the water.

The sea laughed.

"If, at least, Serejka would come," he thought. And he tried to think
only of Serejka. "What a good-for-nothing the fellow is! Robust, able
to read, seen the world--but what a drunkard! Yet good company. One
can't feel dull in his company. The women are mad for him; all run
after him. Malva's the only one that keeps aloof. No, no sign of her!
What a cursed woman! Perhaps she's angry because I beat her."

Thus, thinking of his son, of Serejka, but more often of Malva, Vassili
paced up and down the sandy beach, turning every now and then to look
anxiously out to sea. But Malva did not come.

This is what had happened.

Iakov rose early, and on going down to the beach as usual to wash
himself, he saw Malva. She was seated on the bow of a large fishing
boat anchored in the surf and letting her bare feet hang, sat combing
her damp hair.

Iakov stopped to watch her.

"Have you had a bath?" he cried.

She turned to look at him, and glanced down at her feet: then,
continuing to comb herself, she replied:

"Yes, I took a bath. Why are you u