o the songs. The little boys and
girls ran about chasing one another in the dark. The men stood by,
catching at the girls as the latter moved round, and sometimes breaking
the ring and entering it. On the dark side of the doorway stood
Beletski and Olenin, in their Circassian coats and sheepskin caps, and
talked together in a style of speech unlike that of the Cossacks, in
low but distinct tones, conscious that they were attracting attention.
Next to one another in the khorovod circle moved plump little Ustenka
in her red beshmet and the stately Maryanka in her new smock and
beshmet. Olenin and Beletski were discussing how to snatch Ustenka and
Maryanka out of the ring. Beletski thought that Olenin wished only to
amuse himself, but Olenin was expecting his fate to be decided. He
wanted at any cost to see Maryanka alone that very day and to tell her
everything, and ask her whether she could and would be his wife.
Although that question had long been answered in the negative in his
own mind, he hoped he would be able to tell her all he felt, and that
she would understand him.

'Why did you not tell me sooner?' said Beletski. 'I would have got
Ustenka to arrange it for you. You are such a queer fellow! ...'

'What's to be done! ... Some day, very soon, I'll tell you all about
it. Only now, for Heaven's sake, arrange so that she should come to
Ustenka's.'

'All right, that's easily done! Well, Maryanka, will you belong to the
"fair-faced lad", and not to Lukashka?' said Beletski, speaking to
Maryanka first for propriety's sake, but having received no reply he
went up to Ustenka and begged her to bring Maryanka home with her. He
had hardly time to finish what he was saying before the leader began
another song and the girls started pulling each other round in the ring
by the hand.

They sang:

"Past the garden, by the garden,
A young man came strolling down,
Up the street and through the town.
And the first time as he passed
He did wave his strong right hand.
As the second time he passed
Waved his hat with silken band.
But the third time as he went
He stood still: before her bent.

"How is it that thou, my dear,
My reproaches dost not fear?
In the park don't come to walk
That we there might have a talk?
Come now, answer me, my dear,
Dost thou hold me in contempt?
Later on, thou knowest, dear,
Thou'lt get sober and repent.
Soon to woo thee I