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 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. Lukáshka and Nazárka broke into the ring and started walking about among the girls. Lukáshka 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 Maryánka, but she would not enter the ring. The sound of shrill laughter, slaps, kisses, and whispers mingled with the singing. As he went past Olénin, Lukáshka gave a friendly nod. “Dmítri Andréich! Have you too come to have a look?” he said. “Yes,” answered Olénin dryly. Belétski stooped and whispered something into Ústenka’s ear. She had not time to reply till she came round again, when she said: “All right, we’ll come.” “And Maryánka too?” Olénin stooped towards Maryánka. “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 today.” She had already moved past him. He went after her. “Will you answer?” “Answer what?” “The question I asked you the other day,” said Olénin, stooping to her ear. “Will you marry me?” Maryánka thought for a moment. “I’ll tell you,” said she, “I’ll tell you tonight.” 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 Lukáshka, 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. Olénin had only time to say, “Come to Ústenka’s,” and stepped back to his companion. The song came to an end. Lukáshka wiped his lips, Maryánka did the same, and they kissed. “No, no, kisses five!” said Lukáshka. Chatter, laughter, and running about, succeeded to the rhythmic movements and sound. Lukáshka, who seemed to have drunk a great deal, began to distribute sweetmeats to the girls. “I offer them to everyone!” he said with proud, comically pathetic self-admiration. “But anyone who goes after soldiers goes out of the ring!” he suddenly added, with an angry glance at Olénin. The girls grabbed his sweetmeats from him, and, laughing, struggled for them among themselves. Belétski and Olénin stepped aside.