Namely, one morning, Akím and his wife were just preparing to take a light meal after the noon hour (there was not a single traveller in the inn, after the summer labours), when suddenly a small cart rumbled energetically along the road, and drew up at the porch. Akím glanced through the small window, frowned, and dropped his eyes; from the cart, without haste, Naúm alighted. Avdótya did not see him, but when his voice resounded in the anteroom, the spoon trembled weakly in her hand. He ordered the hired man to put his horse in the yard. At last the door flew wide open, and he entered the room. "Morning,"--he said, and doffed his cap. "Morning,"--repeated Akím through his teeth.--"Whence has God brought thee?" "From the neighbourhood,"--returned the other, seating himself on the wall-bench.--"I come from the lady-mistress." "From the mistress,"--said Akím, still not rising from his seat.--"On business, pray?" "Yes, on business. Avdótya Aréfyevna, our respects to you." "Good morning, Naúm,"--she replied. All remained silent for a space. "What have you there--some sort of porridge, I suppose?"--began Naúm.... "Yes, porridge,"--retorted Akím, and suddenly paled:--"but it is n't for thee." Naúm darted a glance of astonishment at Akím. "Why is n't it for me?" "Why, just because it is n't for thee."--Akím's eyes began to flash, and he smote the table with his fist.--"There is nothing in my house for thee, dost hear me?" "What ails thee, Semyónitch, what ails thee? What 's the matter with thee?" "There 's nothing the matter with me, but I 'm tired of _thee_, Naúm Ivánitch, that 's what."--The old man rose to his feet, trembling all over.--"Thou hast taken to haunting my house altogether too much, that 's what." Naúm also rose to his feet. "Thou hast gone crazy, brother, I do believe,"--he said with a smile.--"Avdótya Aréfyevna, what 's the matter with him?"... "I tell thee,"--yelled Akím, in a quivering voice,--"get out. Dost hear me?.... What hast thou to do with Avdótya Aréfyevna?.... Begone, I tell thee! Dost hear me?" "What 's that thou art saying to me?"--inquired Naúm, significantly. "Take thyself away from here; that 's what I 'm saying to thee. There is God, and there is the threshold .... dost understand? or 't will be the worse for thee!" Naúm strode forward. "Good heavens, don't fight, my dear little doves,"--stammered Avdótya, who until then had remained sitting motionless at the table.... Naúm cast a glance at her. "Don't worry, Avdótya Aréfyevna, why should we fight! Ek-sta, brother,"--he continued, addressing Akím:--"thou hast deafened me with thy yells. Really. What an insolent fellow thou art! Did any one ever hear of such a thing as expelling a man from another man's house,"--added Naúm, with deliberate enunciation:--"and the master of the house, into the bargain?" "What dost thou mean by another man's house?"--muttered Akím.--"What master of the house?" "Why, me, for example."