y
from him.

'No really ... what I wanted to say to you, ...' whispered Lukashka.
'By the Heavens! Do come!'

Maryanka shook her head, but did so with a smile.

'Nursey Maryanka! Hallo Nursey! Mammy is calling! Supper time!' shouted
Maryanka's little brother, running towards the group.

'I'm coming,' replied the girl. 'Go, my dear, go alone--I'll come in a
minute.'

Lukashka rose and raised his cap.

'I expect I had better go home too, that will be best,' he said, trying
to appear unconcerned but hardly able to repress a smile, and he
disappeared behind the corner of the house.

Meanwhile night had entirely enveloped the village. Bright stars were
scattered over the dark sky. The streets became dark and empty. Nazarka
remained with the women on the earth-bank and their laughter was still
heard, but Lukashka, having slowly moved away from the girls, crouched
down like a cat and then suddenly started running lightly, holding his
dagger to steady it: not homeward, however, but towards the cornet's
house. Having passed two streets he turned into a lane and lifting the
skirt of his coat sat down on the ground in the shadow of a fence. 'A
regular cornet's daughter!' he thought about Maryanka. 'Won't even have
a lark--the devil! But just wait a bit.'

The approaching footsteps of a woman attracted his attention. He began
listening, and laughed all by himself. Maryanka with bowed head,
striking the pales of the fences with a switch, was walking with rapid
regular strides straight towards him. Lukashka rose. Maryanka started
and stopped.

'What an accursed devil! You frightened me! So you have not gone home?'
she said, and laughed aloud.

Lukashka put one arm round her and with the other hand raised her face.
'What I wanted to tell you, by Heaven!' his voice trembled and broke.

'What are you talking of, at night time!' answered Maryanka. 'Mother is
waiting for me, and you'd better go to your sweetheart.'

And freeing herself from his arms she ran away a few steps. When she
had reached the wattle fence of her home she stopped and turned to the
Cossack who was running beside her and still trying to persuade her to
stay a while with him.

'Well, what do you want to say, midnight-gadabout?' and she again began
laughing.

'Don't laugh at me, Maryanka! By the Heaven! Well, what if I have a
sweetheart? May the devil take her! Only say the word and now I'll love
you--I'll do anything you wish. Here they are!' and he