Efrém lived a verst from Akím's inn, in a tiny cot in the priest's glebe, disposed around the solitary five-domed church, which had recently been erected by the heirs of a wealthy merchant, in conformity with his testamentary dispositions. Efrém did not speak to Akím all the way, and only shook his head from time to time, uttering words of the following nature: "Akh, thou!" and, "Ekh, thou!" Akím sat motionless, slightly turned away from Efrém. At last they arrived. Efrém sprang out first from the cart. A little girl of six years in a little chemise girt low ran out to meet him, and screamed: "Daddy! daddy!" "And where is thy mother?"--Efrém asked her. "She 's asleep in the kennel." "Well, let her sleep. Akím Semyónitch, won't you please come into the house?" (It must be observed that Efrém addressed him as "thou" only when he was intoxicated. Far more important persons than he addressed Akím as "you.") Akím entered the chanter's cottage. "Pray, come hither to the bench,"--said Efrém.--"Run along, you little rogues,"--he shouted at three other brats who, along with two emaciated cats bespattered with ashes, suddenly made their appearance from various corners of the room.--"Run away! Scat! Here, Akím Semyónitch, come here,"--he went on, as he seated his guest:--"and would n't you like something?" "What shall I say to thee, Efrém?"--articulated Akím at last.--"Could n't I have some liquor?" Efrém gave a start. "Liquor? Certainly. I have none in the house,--liquor, that is to say,--but here, I 'll run at once to Father Feódor. He always has some on hand..... I 'll be back in a jiffy...." And he snatched up his large-eared cap. "And bring as much as possible; I 'll pay for it,"--shouted Akím after him.--"I still have money enough for that." "In a jiffy,"... repeated Efrém once more, as he disappeared through the door. He really did return very speedily with two quart bottles under his arm, one of which was already uncorked, placed them on the table, got out two small green glasses, the heel of a loaf, and salt. "That 's what I love,"--he kept repeating, as he seated himself opposite Akím.--"What 's the use of grieving?"--he filled the glasses for both .... and set to babbling.... Avdótya's behaviour had stunned him.--"'T is an astonishing affair, truly,"--said he:--"how did it come about? He must have bewitched her to himself by magic .... hey? That 's what it means, that a woman should be strictly watched! She ought to have had a tight hand kept over her. And yet, it would n't be a bad thing for you to go home; for you must have a lot of property left there, I think."--And to many more speeches of the same sort did Efrém give utterance; when he was drinking he did not like to hold his tongue.