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Vanyusha would bring him his tea and he would sit down in a corner near the oven. The old woman did not mind him but went on with her work, and over their tea or their chikhir they talked about Cossack affairs, about the neighbours, or about Russia: Olenin relating and the others inquiring. Sometimes he brought a book and read to himself.
He did not go shooting, but now took up a book, and now went out into the porch, and now again re-entered the hut and lay down on the bed. Vanyusha thought he was ill. Towards evening Olenin got up, resolutely began writing, and wrote on till late at night.
Now and then he looked round at some house and wondered why it was so curiously built; sometimes he began wondering why the post-boy and Vanyusha, who were so different from himself, sat so near, and together with him were being jerked about and swayed by the tugs the side-horses gave at the frozen traces, and again he repeated: 'First rate ... very fond! and once he even said: 'And how it seizes one ... excellent! and wondered what made him say it.
'And is your master married? she asked. 'No. The master is young and unmarried, because noble gentlemen can never marry young, said Vanyusha didactically. 'A likely thing! See what a fed-up buffalo he is and too young to marry! Is he the chief of you all? she asked. 'My master is a cadet; that means he's not yet an officer, but he's more important than a general he's an important man!
'Go, my own, draw some for them, said Granny Ulitka to her daughter. 'Take it from the cask that's begun, my precious. The girl took the keys and a decanter and went out of the hut with Vanyusha. 'Tell me, who is that young woman? asked Olenin, pointing to Maryanka, who was passing the window. The old man winked and nudged the young man with his elbow.
Vanyusha did not approve of his theory, and announced that 'l'argent il n'y a pas! and that therefore it was all nonsense. Lukashka rode home, jumped off the horse, and handed it over to his mother, telling her to let it out with the communal Cossack herd. He himself had to return to the cordon that same night.
'Du tay voulay vou? asked Vanyusha, grinning. 'You're not one of us your gabble is not like our speech, you devil! the old man shouted at Vanyusha, showing the stumps of his teeth. 'A first offence must be forgiven, said Olenin playfully, drawing on his high boots. 'The first offence shall be forgiven, answered Eroshka, 'but if you oversleep another time you'll be fined a pail of chikhir.
And the old Cossack patted the young man affectionately on the shoulder. Vanyusha, who meanwhile had finished his housekeeping arrangements and had even been shaved by the company's barber and had pulled his trousers out of his high boots as a sign that the company was stationed in comfortable quarters, was in excellent spirits.
'Is that the way you go hunting? said the old man. 'Others are having their breakfast and you are asleep! Lyam! Here! he called to his dog. 'Is your gun ready? he shouted, as loud as if a whole crowd were in the hut. 'Well, it's true I'm guilty, but it can't be helped! The powder, Vanyusha, and the wads! said Olenin. 'A fine! shouted the old man.
This is something unexpected, undreamt of. Olenin was as happy as a boy of twelve. 'Tie it up here. It's a good horse. I bought it in Groznoe; it gallops splendidly! Vanyusha, bring us some chikhir. Come into the hut. The wine was brought. Lukashka sat down and took the wine-bowl. 'God willing I'll find a way to repay you, he said, finishing his wine. 'How are you called? 'Dmitri Andreich.
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