Ivan Ivanich Lapkin, a pleasant looking young man, and Anna Zamblizky, a young girl with a little snub nose, walked down the sloping bank and sat down on the bench. The bench was close to the water’s edge, among thick bushes of young willow. A heavenly spot! You sat down, and you were hidden from the world. Only the fish could see you and the catspaws which flashed over the water like lightning. The two young persons were equipped with rods, fish hooks, bags, tins of worms and everything else necessary. Once seated, they immediately began to fish. “I am glad that we’re left alone at last,” said Lapkin, looking round. I’ve got a lot to tell you, Anna--tremendous ... when I saw you for the first time ... you’ve got a nibble ... I understood then--why I am alive, I knew where my idol was, to whom I can devote my honest, hardworking life.... It must be a big one ... it is biting.... When I saw you--for the first time in my life I fell in love--fell in love passionately! Don’t pull. Let it go on biting.... Tell me, darling, tell me--will you let me hope? No! I’m not worth it. I dare not even think of it--may I hope for.... Pull! Anna lifted her hand that held the rod--pulled, cried out. A silvery green fish shone in the air. “Goodness! it’s a perch! Help--quick! It’s slipping off.” The perch tore itself from the hook--danced in the grass towards its native element and ... leaped into the water. But instead of the little fish that he was chasing, Lapkin quite by accident caught hold of Anna’s hand--quite by accident pressed it to his lips. She drew back, but it was too late; quite by accident their lips met and kissed; yes, it was an absolute accident! They kissed and kissed. Then came vows and assurances.... Blissful moments! But there is no such thing as absolute happiness in this life. If happiness itself does not contain a poison, poison will enter in from without. Which happened this time. Suddenly, while the two were kissing, a laugh was heard. They looked at the river and were paralysed. The schoolboy Kolia, Anna’s brother, was standing in the water, watching the young people and maliciously laughing. “Ah--ha! Kissing!” said he. “Right O, I’ll tell Mother.” “I hope that you--as a man of honour,” Lapkin muttered, blushing. “It’s disgusting to spy on us, it’s loathsome to tell tales, it’s rotten. As a man of honour....” “Give me a shilling, then I’ll shut up!” the man of honour retorted. “If you don’t, I’ll tell.” Lapkin took a shilling out of his pocket and gave it to Kolia, who squeezed it in his wet fist, whistled, and swam away. And the young people did not kiss any more just then.