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The sun had come out from behind the pear-tree that had shaded the wagon, and even through the branches that Ustenka had fixed up it scorched the faces of the sleeping girls. Maryanka woke up and began arranging the kerchief on her head. Looking about her, beyond the pear-tree she noticed their lodger, who with his gun on his shoulder stood talking to her father.
'Sleep, girls, sleep! said Ustenka, making herself comfortable under the wagon. 'Wait a bit, she exclaimed, 'this won't do! She jumped up, plucked some green branches, and stuck them through the wheels on both sides of the wagon and hung her beshmet over them. 'Let me in, she shouted to the little boy as she again crept under the wagon. 'Is this the place for a Cossack with the girls?
He jumped down from the porch and ran after the girls. 'Bother you, someone may see... said Ustenka. 'Never mind! Olenin ran up to Maryanka and embraced her. Maryanka did not resist. 'Haven't you kissed enough yet? said Ustenka. 'Marry and then kiss, but now you'd better wait. 'Good-night, Maryanka. To-morrow I will come to see your father and tell him. Don't you say anything.
"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.
'Why, Maryanka has quite forgotten you, said Ustenka, nudging Maryanka with her elbow and breaking into a shrill laugh. Maryanka moved away from the horse and throwing back her head calmly looked at the Cossack with her large sparkling eyes. 'True enough, you have not been home for a long time! Why are you trampling us under your horse? she remarked dryly, and turned away.
'What are you up to, you beast? squealed the rosy, round-faced Ustenka, laughing and lifting her arm to hit him. The Cossack stepped aside and nearly fell. 'There, they say girls have no strength, and you nearly killed me. 'Get away, you black pitch, what devil has brought you from the cordon? said Ustenka, and turning away from him she again burst out laughing.
The girls looked at him, surprised and almost frightened, as he drank. It seemed to them strange and not right. Ustenka brought them another glass each, and kissed them both. 'There girls, now we'll have some fun, she said, clinking on the plate the four rubles the men had put there. Olenin no longer felt awkward, but became talkative.
Some half dozen girls in smart tunics, with their heads not covered as usual with kerchiefs, were huddled together in a corner behind the oven, whispering, giggling, and spluttering with laughter. 'I humbly beg you to do honour to my patron saint, said Ustenka, inviting her guests to the table.
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