"But here one earns more," replied quietly Jakoff. In his own mind Vassili admitted the truth of his son's argument Life was of course harder in the village than it was here; but he was displeased that Jakoff should notice it And he added in a severe tone-- "What do you know about what is earned here? In the village ..." "It's like a narrow dark prison," said Malva sarcastically. "And the woman's life there especially, is nothing but tears." "The woman's life is everywhere the same, and light is everywhere the same, and so is the sun!" said Vassili coldly. "That's what you think!" cried Malva excitedly. "In the village, whether I wished it or not I should have to marry. And a woman once married is for ever a slave. She must weave and spin, and look after the animals, and bring children into the world. What is there left for her herself? Nothing but blows and abuse from her husband." "That's not true, that she gets nothing but blows," replied Vassili. "Whilst I, here," she continued, without listening to him, "I belong to no one. I am as free as a seagull! I fly wherever pleases me. No one can stop me, and no one can interfere with me." "And if any one were to interfere with you?" said Vassili, amused with the allusion which he understood. "Well, they would have to pay for it," she replied softly. And she dropped her eyelids over her blazing eyes. Vassili laughed an indulgent laugh. "Oh! you, you are both bold and weak! You talk like a woman. In the village woman is a necessity of life, whilst here she is one of its pleasures." And after a few moments' silence he added-- "And one of its sins." Jakoff, when they had finished their conversation, said with a dreamy sigh-- "The sea looks as if it stretched away for ever and ever." All three looked out over the limitless expanse. "Ah! if only all that were earth!" exclaimed the lad, stretching out his arms, "good black earth!... and if only we could plough it!" "Ah! that's right!" said his father good-humouredly. By his gesture he approved of his son, standing there, flushed with the burning desire that he had just expressed. It was pleasant to him to hear these words, to witness this love for the earth; and he thought that perhaps this same love might recall Jakoff imperiously back to the village, far from temptations. He himself could then remain with Malva, and all would go well as it used to do.... "Yes, Jakoff", that's the way a peasant ought to speak. "That's the way a peasant should think. The peasant's only strength is in the land; as long as he has land he can live; but if he tears himself away from the land it's all up with him. The peasant without land is like a tree without roots; one can use it for all sorts of purposes, but it has no life ... it is rotting. And it no longer possesses the beauty of the woods; it is hewn and cut about; it has quite a different look. Yes, Jakoff, you spoke then some true words."