“There’s a sensible girl,” said Belétski, kissing the struggling girl. “No, you must offer it,” he insisted, addressing Maryánka. “Offer a glass to your lodger.” And taking her by the hand he led her to the bench and sat her down beside Olénin. “What a beauty,” he said, turning her head to see it in profile. Maryánka did not resist but proudly smiling turned her long eyes towards Olénin. “A beautiful girl,” repeated Belétski. “Yes, see what a beauty I am,” Maryánka’s look seemed to endorse. Without considering what he was doing Olénin embraced Maryánka and was going to kiss her, but she suddenly extricated herself, upsetting Belétski and pushing the top off the table, and sprang away towards the oven. There was much shouting and laughter. Then Belétski whispered something to the girls and suddenly they all ran out into the passage and locked the door behind them. “Why did you kiss Belétski and won’t kiss me?” asked Olénin. “Oh, just so. I don’t want to, that’s all!” she answered, pouting and frowning. “He’s Grandad,” she added with a smile. She went to the door and began to bang at it. “Why have you locked the door, you devils?” “Well, let them be there and us here,” said Olénin, drawing closer to her. She frowned, and sternly pushed him away with her hand. And again she appeared so majestically handsome to Olénin that he came to his senses and felt ashamed of what he was doing. He went to the door and began pulling at it himself. “Belétski! Open the door! What a stupid joke!” Maryánka again gave a bright happy laugh. “Ah, you’re afraid of me?” she said. “Yes, you know you’re as cross as your mother.” “Spend more of your time with Eróshka; that will make the girls love you!” And she smiled, looking straight and close into his eyes. He did not know what to reply. “And if I were to come to see you—” he let fall. “That would be a different matter,” she replied, tossing her head. At that moment Belétski pushed the door open, and Maryánka sprang away from Olénin and in doing so her thigh struck his leg. “It’s all nonsense what I have been thinking about—love and self-sacrifice and Lukáshka. Happiness is the one thing. He who is happy is right,” flashed through Olénin’s mind, and with a strength unexpected to himself he seized and kissed the beautiful Maryánka on her temple and her cheek. Maryánka was not angry, but only burst into a loud laugh and ran out to the other girls. That was the end of the party. Ústenka’s mother, returned from her work, gave all the girls a scolding, and turned them all out. Chapter XXVI “Yes,” thought Olénin, as he walked home. “I need only slacken the reins a bit and I might fall desperately in love with this Cossack girl.” He went to bed with these thoughts, but expected it all to blow over and that he would continue to live as before.