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Iakov did not want to give twenty kopeks, but they had warned him to be on his guard when dealing with Serejka, and to put up with his whims. The tramp never demanded much, but if he was refused he spread evil tales about you or else he would beat you. So Iakov, sighing, put his hand in his pocket.
"That's right," said Serejka, with a tone of encouragement, and he sat down beside them on the sand. "Always do what I tell you and you'll be happy. And you," he went on, turning to Malva "when are you going to marry me? Better be quick. I don't like to wait long." "You are too ragged. Begin by sewing up your holes and then we'll see," replied Malva.
The father gave him a rapid glance and then turned away his eyes. Malva did not stir. Serejka moved his leg and raising his voice said: "Here's our dearly beloved son, Iakov, back from a distant shore." Then he added in his ordinary voice: "You should flay him alive and make drums with his skin." Malva laughed. "It's hot," said Iakov, sitting beside them.
His face was covered with freckles and he had big saucy blue eyes and an impertinent turned-up nose. When he came up he stopped and made a grimace. "Serejka drank yesterday, and today Serejka's pocket is empty. Lend me twenty kopeks. I'll not return them." Iakov burst out laughing; Malva smiled. "Give me the money," went on the tramp. "I'll marry you for twenty kopeks if you like."
Serejka boldly returned the stare and so they remained for a minute or two, like two rams ready to charge on each other. Then without a word each turned away and went off in a different direction. The sea was calm and crimson with the rays of the setting sun. A confused sound hovered over the fishing ground. The voice of a drunken woman sang hysterically words devoid of sense.
Thus she continued on until she came to the barrels where Serejka greeted her with this question: "Well, have you seen the last of him?" She gave an affirmative sign, and sat down beside him. Iakov looked at her and smiled, gently moving his lips as if he were saying things that he alone heard. "When will you go to the headland?" she asked Serejka, indicating the sea with a movement of her head.
In the dawn's pure light the sea still slumbered, reflecting the pearl-like clouds. On the headland a party of fishermen still only half awake moved slowly about, getting ready the rigging of their boat. Serejka, bareheaded and tattered as usual, stood in the bow hurrying the men on with a hoarse voice, the result of his drunken orgy of the previous night. "Where are the oars, Vassili?"
Serejka had told Iakov that his father was angry with him on account of Malva, and that he had threatened to beat Malva until she was half dead. He also said that was the reason she resisted Iakov's advances. This story had excited Iakov's resentment against his father. He now looked upon him as an obstacle in his road that he could neither remove nor get around.
"I'll not fail," said Serejka. "Goodbye." "Goodbye, dear friend." "Goodbye, Malva," said Vassili, not raising his eyes. She slowly wiped her lips with her sleeve, threw her two white arms round his neck and kissed him three times on the lips and cheeks. He was overcome with emotion and uttered some indistinct words. Iakov lowered his head, dissimulating a smile.
Serejka was impassible, and he even yawned a little, at the same time gazing at the sky. "You'll find it hot walking," he said. "No matter. Goodbye, you too, Iakov." "Goodbye!" They stood facing each other, not knowing what to do. The sad word "goodbye" aroused in Iakov a feeling of tenderness for his father, but he did not know how to express it.
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