Vassili shouted after her and shook his fists. Malva, as she walked,
took pains to place each foot in the deep impressions of Vassili's feet,
and when she succeeded she carefully effaced the traces. Thus she
continued on until she came to the barrels where Serejka greeted her
with this question:
"Well, have you seen the last of him?"
She gave an affirmative sign, and sat down beside him. Iakov looked at
her and smiled, gently moving his lips as if he were saying things that
he alone heard.
"When will you go to the headland?" she asked Serejka, indicating the
sea with a movement of her head.
"This evening."
"I will go with you."
"Bravo, that suits me."
"And I, too--I'll go," cried Iakov.
"Who invited you?" asked Serejka, screwing up his eyes.
The sound of a cracked bell called the men to work.
"She will invite me," said Iakov.
He looked defiantly at Malva.
"I? what need have I of you?" she replied, surprised.
"Let us he frank, Iakov," said Serejka. "If you annoy her, I'll beat
you to a jelly. And if you as much as touch her with a finger, I'll
kill you like a fly. I am a simple man."
His face, all his person, his knotty and muscular arms proved eloquently
that killing a man would be a very simple thing for him.
Pages:
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147