"Where we are going is not your affair! What is it to you? I advise you not to meddle with other people's business. Do you hear that, my lad?" And she went off. "Oh, very well!" cried Jakoff. "Just wait a bit! Ha! ha! ha! I'll show you.... All right!... you're a nice sort of young lady!" He grumbled on for a few minutes longer, then went off to sleep with a drunken, satisfied smile on his red face. Vassili stuck three posts into the sand, and tied the tops of them together; over this he threw a mat, and having thus rapidly arranged a shelter, he lay down in the shade, put his hands behind his head, and looked at the sky. When Malva approached and threw herself on the sand at his side, he turned towards her a face full of resentment. "Well, old man," she asked, laughing, "aren't you more pleased than that at seeing your son?" "He mocks me ... and why? Because of you ... that's what it means," replied Vassili, gloomily. "Because of me, indeed?..." She maliciously feigned astonishment "Why ... of course!" "Ah! how you upset me!... What am I to be up to now? I mustn't come back, I suppose.... Well, I won't come any more...." "Get along with you, you baggage!... What a set of creatures you are!... He mocks me, and now you are doing the same ... and you are the two who are the nearest to me. And where's the joke, I would like to know? You're a pair of devils!" He ceased speaking and walked away. She remained sitting, holding her knees and rocking her whole body backwards and forwards with a gentle movement, watching with her lambent green eyes the joyous sea, and smiling one of those triumphant smiles which women indulge in who understand the power of their beauty. A sailing-boat was gliding over the water, looking like a huge bird with grey wings. It was far from the shore, and was moving ever further and further away, towards the point where the sea and the sky melted into an infinite blue, drawing everything into the mystery of its absorbing tranquillity. "Why don't you speak?" said Vassili. "I am thinking," replied Malva. "What about?" "Nothing in particular." She raised her eyebrows, and after a few minutes' silence added-- "That son of yours is a fine lad!" "What's that to you?" cried Vassili, with jealousy in his voice. "I'm sure I don't know...." "Just you look out for yourself!" (He threw her a glance of distrust) "Don't play the fool. There'll be an end of my patience some time; you had better not aggravate me!" He ground his teeth, clenched his fists, and continued-- "As soon as you got here to-day, you were up to some game.... I don't quite understand what it is, but look here, if you make me understand it, you will be sorry for it! Yes, you may go on making your grimaces ... and you think perhaps I don't notice them.... I know how to treat your sort ... if you carry on...." "Don't try and frighten me, Vassili!" she said listlessly, and without looking at him. "Very well! Don't you make jokes then!"