'Well then, will you have some tea?'

'If you will permit me, I will bring my own particular glass,' answered
the cornet, and stepped out into the porch.

'Bring me my glass!' he cried.

In a few minutes the door opened and a young sunburnt arm in a print
sleeve thrust itself in, holding a tumbler in the hand. The cornet went
up, took it, and whispered something to his daughter. Olenin poured tea
for the cornet into the latter's own 'particular' glass, and for
Eroshka into a 'worldly' glass.

'However, I do not desire to detain you,' said the cornet, scalding his
lips and emptying his tumbler. 'I too have a great liking for fishing,
and I am here, so to say, only on leave of absence for recreation from
my duties. I too have the desire to tempt fortune and see whether some
Gifts of the Terek may not fall to my share. I hope you too will come
and see us and have a drink of our wine, according to the custom of our
village,' he added.

The cornet bowed, shook hands with Olenin, and went out. While Olenin
was getting ready, he heard the cornet giving orders to his family in
an authoritative and sensible tone, and a few minutes later he saw him
pass by the window in a tattered coat with his trousers rolled up to
his knees and a fishing net over his shoulder.

'A rascal!' said Daddy Eroshka, emptying his 'worldly' tumbler. 'And
will you really pay him six rubles? Was such a thing ever heard of?
They would let you the best hut in the village for two rubles. What a
beast! Why, I'd let you have mine for three!'

'No, I'll remain here,' said Olenin.

'Six rubles! ... Clearly it's a fool's money. Eh, eh, eh! answered the
old man. 'Let's have some chikhir, Ivan!'

Having had a snack and a drink of vodka to prepare themselves for the
road, Olenin and the old man went out together before eight o'clock.

At the gate they came up against a wagon to which a pair of oxen were
harnessed. With a white kerchief tied round her head down to her eyes,
a coat over her smock, and wearing high boots, Maryanka with a long
switch in her hand was dragging the oxen by a cord tied to their horns.

'Mammy,' said the old man, pretending that he was going to seize her.

Maryanka flourished her switch at him and glanced merrily at them both
with her beautiful eyes.

Olenin felt still more light-hearted.

'Now then, come on, come on,' he said, throwing his gun on his shoulder
and conscious of the girl's eyes upon him.

'Gee up!' sounded