Without uttering a complaint, silent and calm, she allowed herself to fall backwards, flushed, dishevelled, but still beautiful. Her green eyes watched him under their eyelids, and seemed to bum with the cold flame of hatred; whilst he, panting with excitement, and pleased with the outlet he had given to his anger, did not notice this glance; and when he leant over her full of the contempt bred of victory, she was smiling softly. At first her lips trembled a little, then her eyes lighted up, dimples showed in her cheeks, and she began to laugh. Vassili watched her with astonishment, as she laughed loud and gaily, as if she had not just been beaten. "What's the matter now, you little she-devil?" he cried anxiously, pulling her roughly by the sleeve. "Vassia, was it you who beat me?" she murmured. "Yes, it was I; who else could it be?" He watched her, but failed to understand her mood. Should he beat her again? But his anger was now dead; he had no wish to begin again. "Is it because you love me?" she asked gently. And Vassili felt hot all over, as he listened to her whispering voice. "That's enough now!... Devil take you!" he replied moodily. "Are you satisfied?" "Vassia! and I, who thought you did not care for me any more. I said to myself, 'Now that his son is here, he will send me away on his account.'" And she burst out into a strange exaggerated laugh. "Fool!" said Vassili, smiling involuntarily. He felt himself in the wrong, and pitied her; but recalling the words she had used at first, and which had roused his anger, he replied gruffly-- "My son has nothing to do in the matter.... And if I have beaten you it was because you deserved it: why did you nag at me?" "I did it on purpose, to try you." And with provoking playfulness, she rubbed against his shoulder. He glanced hastily towards the hut, and then kissed the young girl. "To try me indeed!... a fine idea ... now you see what you have got." "It doesn't matter," said Malva, half closing her eyes; "I am not angry: you beat me because you loved me.... I shan't forget that!" She looked at him fixedly, gave a little shudder, and lowering her voice, repeated-- "No, I shan't forget that in a hurry." Vassili gave to these words a meaning agreeable to himself; they seemed to cause him pleasant emotion, for he smiled, and said with a stupid self-satisfied expression-- "How do you mean? tell me." "You'll see!" replied Malva quietly, but her lips trembled. "Ah! my little jewel!" cried Vassili, crushing her in his arms. "And, do you know, since I have beaten you I love you twice as much; you are all the dearer to me.... You seem to belong to me all the more...." The gulls flew round them. The breeze from the sea threw up at their feet the foam from the waves, and the ceaseless ripple seemed to speak of peace.