will come,
And when we shall married be
Thou wilt weep because of me!"

"Though I knew what to reply,
Yet I dared not him deny,
No, I dared not him deny!
So into the park went I,
In the park my lad to meet,
There my dear one I did greet."

"Maiden dear, I bow to thee!
Take this handkerchief from me.
In thy white hand take it, see!
Say I am beloved by thee.
I don't know at all, I fear,
What I am to give thee, dear!
To my dear I think I will
Of a shawl a present make--
And five kisses for it take."'

Lukashka and Nazarka broke into the ring and started walking about
among the girls. Lukashka joined in the singing, taking seconds in his
clear voice as he walked in the middle of the ring swinging his arms.
'Well, come in, one of you!' he said. The other girls pushed Maryanka,
but she would not enter the ring. The sound of shrill laughter, slaps,
kisses, and whispers mingled with the singing.

As he went past Olenin, Lukashka gave a friendly nod.

'Dmitri Andreich! Have you too come to have a look?' he said.

'Yes,' answered Olenin dryly.

Beletski stooped and whispered something into Ustenka's ear. She had
not time to reply till she came round again, when she said:

'All right, we'll come.'

'And Maryanka too?'

Olenin stooped towards Maryanka. 'You'll come? Please do, if only for a
minute. I must speak to you.'

'If the other girls come, I will.'

'Will you answer my question?' said he, bending towards her. 'You are
in good spirits to-day.'

She had already moved past him. He went after her.

'Will you answer?'

'Answer what?'

'The question I asked you the other day,' said Olenin, stooping to her
ear. 'Will you marry me?'

Maryanka thought for a moment.

'I'll tell you,' said she, 'I'll tell you to-night.'

And through the darkness her eyes gleamed brightly and kindly at the
young man.

He still followed her. He enjoyed stooping closer to her. But Lukashka,
without ceasing to sing, suddenly seized her firmly by the hand and
pulled her from her place in the ring of girls into the middle. Olenin
had only time to say, "Come to Ustenka's," and stepped back to his
companion.

The song came to an end. Lukashka wiped his lips, Maryanka did the
same, and they kissed. "No, no, kisses five!" said Lukashka. Chatter,
laughter, and running about, succeeded to the rhythmic movements and
sound. Lukashka, who seemed to have drunk a grea