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Vanyusha would bring a jug of chikhir, and they would converse quietly, drink, and separate to go quite contentedly to bed. The next day he would again go shooting, again be healthily weary, again they would sit conversing and drink their fill, and again be happy. Sometimes on a holiday or day of rest Olenin spent the whole day at home.
Olenin expected that Lukishka would go to share his joy with Maryanka, but though he did not do so Olenin still felt his soul more at ease than ever before in his life. He was as delighted as a boy, and could not refrain from telling Vanyusha not only that he had given Lukashka the horse, but also why he had done it, as well as his new theory of happiness.
In this way I caught Vanyusha, Daddy Eroshka, Lukashka, and Maryanka. As Olenin was finishing this sentence Daddy Eroshka entered the room. Eroshka was in the happiest frame of mind. A few evenings before this, Olenin had gone to see him and had found him with a proud and happy face deftly skinning the carcass of a boar with a small knife in the yard.
Besides which he had had something to drink at the betrothal. He came to Olenin quite drunk: his face red, his beard tangled, but wearing a new beshmet trimmed with gold braid; and he brought with him a balalayka which he had obtained beyond the river. He had long promised Olenin this treat, and felt in the mood for it, so that he was sorry to find Olenin writing.
And taking her by the hand he led her to the bench and sat her down beside Olenin. 'What a beauty, he said, turning her head to see it in profile. Maryanka did not resist but proudly smiling turned her long eyes towards Olenin. 'A beautiful girl, repeated Beletski. 'Yes, see what a beauty I am, Maryanka's look seemed to endorse.
I am so glad now you and I will be able to see something of one another. I have put up at the Cossack corporal's house. There is such a girl there. Ustenka! I tell you she's just charming. And more and more French and Russian words came pouring forth from that world which Olenin thought he had left for ever. The general opinion about Beletski was that he was a nice, good-natured fellow.
Olenin got into the cart. 'Well, is that how you're going? You might give me something for a remembrance. Give me a gun! What do you want two for? said the old man, sobbing quite sincerely. Olenin got out a musket and gave it to him. 'What a lot you've given the old fellow, murmured Vanyusha, 'he'll never have enough! A regular old beggar.
'You, an old man and say such things, replied Olenin. 'Why, it's a sin! 'A sin? Where's the sin? said the old man emphatically. 'A sin to look at a nice girl? A sin to have some fun with her? Or is it a sin to love her? Is that so in your parts? ... No, my dear fellow, it's not a sin, it's salvation! God made you and God made the girl too. He made it all; so it is no sin to look at a nice girl.
'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 more chikhir. 'Well, will they come? asked Olenin, addressing Beletski. 'They'll come directly, replied Beletski. 'Come along, we must prepare the ball.
'It seems Vanyusha was right! thought Olenin. "A Tartar would be nobler", and followed by Granny Ulitka's abuse he went out of the hut. As he was leaving, Maryanka, still wearing only her pink smock, but with her forehead covered down to her eyes by a white kerchief, suddenly slipped out from the passage past him.
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