Jakoff looked at his father and thought-- "One can see she comes here often, for she knows where everything is." When she had found the spoons, she said she must go down to the sea to wash them, and that in the boat she had some vodka. The father and son watched her as she walked away, and, when they found themselves alone, remained silent. "Where did you meet her?" said Vassili at last "I asked at the office where you were; she was there. And she said to me--'Why go on foot along the sand? Let us go in the boat; I also am going to see him.' And we set off." "Yes?... Well, I have often said to myself, 'I wonder how he is now, my Jakoff?'" The son smiled good-naturedly. This gave Vassili back his courage. "And ... how are you?" "Oh! all right ..." said Jakoff, dropping his eyelids. "What the devil could I do?" exclaimed Vassili, waving his arms about "I kept straight at first ... But I couldn't go on like that It was habit ... you see I am a married man!... And then she mends my clothes, and so on.... Besides, one__ can't escape either women or death!" This simple maxim seemed to bring his explanation to a close. "What does it matter to me?" said Jakoff. "It's your business, I am not your judge." But he thought to himself--"I should like to see her mending his trousers!" "I am forty-five; that's not old yet ... She costs me very little; why the devil should she?... she is not my wife!..." continued Vassili. "Of course not!" admitted Jakoff. But he thought--"I bet she makes his money slip through her fingers!" Malva had returned with a bottle of vodka and a string of little rolls; they sat down to dinner. They ate without talking, sucking the fish-bones noisily, and spitting them on to the sand near the door. Jakoff devoured his portion, and this seemed to please Malva. She watched with a tender expression his great sunburnt jaws chewing, his cheeks distending, and his thick, moist lips moving. Vassili was not hungry; he attempted to appear absorbed in his meal, so as to be able to observe at his ease Jakoff and Malva, and to think over the way in which he should behave towards them. The joyful and caressing music of the waves was accompanied by the ferocious and victorious cries of the seagulls. The heat seemed to be growing less, and from time to time a breath of fresh air impregnated with the pure smell of the sea, seemed to reach the hut. After having eaten the excellent fish-soup, and drunk several glasses of vodka, Jakoff became sleepy. He began by smiling stupidly, and yawning, looking at Malva all the time in such a way that Vassili thought it better to say to him-- "Lie down here, Jakoff, till tea-time ... then we will call you." "All right," said Jakoff, throwing himself down on some rugs. "And you two ... where are you going?... He! he!" Vassili, annoyed by this guffaw, went out hastily. Malva closed her lips tightly, knitted her brows, and replied to Jakoff--