The corporal, an old cavalry man, looked angrily at the Cossacks and led his men straight along the road where Lukáshka and Nazárka were standing, so that they should have to get out of the way. Nazárka moved, but Lukáshka only screwed up his eyes and turned his broad back without moving from his place. “People are standing here, so you go round,” he muttered, half turning his head and tossing it contemptuously in the direction of the soldiers. The soldiers passed by in silence, keeping step regularly along the dusty road. Maryánka began laughing and all the other girls chimed in. “What swells!” said Nazárka, “Just like long-skirted choristers,” and he walked a few steps down the road imitating the soldiers. Again everyone broke into peals of laughter. Lukáshka came slowly up to Maryánka. “And where have you put up the chief?” he asked. Maryánka thought for a moment. “We’ve let him have the new hut,” she said. “And is he old or young,” asked Lukáshka, sitting down beside her. “Do you think I’ve asked?” answered the girl. “I went to get him some _chikhir_ and saw him sitting at the window with Daddy Eróshka. Red-headed he seemed. They’ve brought a whole cartload of things.” And she dropped her eyes. “Oh, how glad I am that I got leave from the cordon!” said Lukáshka, moving closer to the girl and looking straight in her eyes all the time. “And have you come for long?” asked Maryánka, smiling slightly. “Till the morning. Give me some sunflower seeds,” he said, holding out his hand. Maryánka now smiled outright and unfastened the neckband of her smock. “Don’t take them all,” she said. “Really I felt so dull all the time without you, I swear I did,” he said in a calm, restrained whisper, helping himself to some seeds out of the bosom of the girl’s smock, and stooping still closer over her he continued with laughing eyes to talk to her in low tones. “I won’t come, I tell you,” Maryánka suddenly said aloud, leaning away from him. “No really ... what I wanted to say to you, ...” whispered Lukáshka. “By the Heavens! Do come!” Maryánka shook her head, but did so with a smile. “Nursey Maryánka! Hallo Nursey! Mammy is calling! Supper time!” shouted Maryánka’s little brother, running towards the group. “I’m coming,” replied the girl. “Go, my dear, go alone—I’ll come in a minute.” Lukáshka rose and raised his cap. “I expect I had better go home too, that will be best,” he said, trying to appear unconcerned but hardly able to repress a smile, and he disappeared behind the corner of the house.