"Ah! this is where you have got to," he said, seating himself by her side. "Have you been looking for me a long time?" she asked, with some degree of assurance. "Looking for you? What an idea!..." said Jakoff, perceiving suddenly that this was exactly the truth. Ever since the morning till now, he had, without knowing it, been looking for her. He shook his head with surprise. "Can you read?" he asked her. "Yes ... but badly, I have forgotten everything." "So have I.... Did you go to school?" "Yes, the municipal school." "And I taught myself." "Did you really?" "Yes, I was cook at Astrachan, in a lawyer's house, and his son taught me to read." "Then you didn't learn by yourself!" She continued--"Shouldn't you like to read books?" "No.... What should I want to read for?" "Oh! I should like so much to read!... Look here.... I asked the inspector's wife to lend me this book, and I am reading it." "What is it?" "The story of the saint Alexis, a man of God." And in a serious voice she told him how a young lad, the son of rich and noble parents, had left them, had turned his back on all happiness, and finally had returned, a beggar and in rags, and lived in the kennel with the dogs, without telling any one till his last hour who he was. She ended by asking Jakoff in a low voice-- "Why did he act in this way?" "Who can tell?" replied Jakoff with indifference. They were surrounded by little hillocks of sand, collected by the winds and the waves. A confused dull noise came round from the direction of the fishery. The setting sun shed on the shore the ruddy reflection of its rays. The delicate willows thrilled with the sea-breeze through every one of their pale green leaves. Malva sat silent as if listening. "Why did you not go over there to-day, to the cape?" asked Jakoff "What's that to you?" Jakoff plucked a leaf and chewed it between his teeth. He watched the girl furtively, not knowing quite how to speak what he wanted to say. "It's like this; when I am all alone, and it's so nice and quiet, I want either to sing or cry all the time. Only I don't know any good songs, and I am ashamed to cry." Jakoff listened to the melodious, caressing voice; but her words, far from touching him, only intensified his desire. "Listen," he said to her in a thick voice, and moving nearer to her. "Listen to what I am going to say to you.... I am young ..." "And stupid, very stupid!" said Malva, shaking her head. "Well grant that," said Jakoff, becoming suddenly animated. "Why should one be clever?... I am stupid; all right! Now I am going to ask you. Will you ..." "You needn't say any more.... I won't...." "Why?" "Because." "Don't be stupid" (and he took hold of her gently by the shoulders). "Do you understand?" "Get along with you, Jakoff!" she cried out in a severe tone, shaking herself loose from him. "Get away with you!"