But Tikhon Ilitch was not listening to him. He chose a suitable moment for beginning a business-like talk. And, paying no heed to him, he interrupted: “Well, you’ve turned out an empty-headed babbler. Has Yakoff sold the mare?” Deniska suddenly broke out into a coarse, vociferous guffaw. But he replied in the same sing-song tenor voice as usual: “Yakoff Mikititch, you mean? What are you talking about? He’s getting richer and richer, and stingier and stingier. There was a great joke on him yesterday!” “What about?” “Why, there was! His colt died, and what sort of a trick did he concoct? He made use of its legs and hoofs. He hadn’t enough stakes for his wattled fence, so--he took and wove in those same legs.” “He’s fit for a cabinet-minister, not a peasant!” said Tikhon Ilitch. “You tatterdemalions are not in the same class with him. I suppose you are travelling to Tula on a wolf’s ticket?” “And what should I want of a ticket?” retorted Deniska. “I get into the carriage and dive straight under the seat--and may the Lord bless and protect! All I want is to get to Uzlovskaya.” “What’s that? Uzlovskaya? Do you mean Uzslova?” “Well, then, Uzslova; it’s the same thing. I’ll ride there, and from there on ’tis not far--I can go afoot.” “And what were you thinking about doing with all your little books? You can’t read them under the seat.” Deniska thought that over. “Right you are!” said he. “Well, I won’t stay under the bench all the time. I’ll creep into the toilet--I can read there until daylight.” Tikhon Ilitch frowned. “Well, see here now,” he began. “See here: ’tis time for you to stop that sort of talk. You’re not a small boy, you fool. Trot back as fast as you can to Durnovka. ’Tis time to buckle down to business. Why, as you are, it makes one sick at the stomach just to look at you. My courtyard-councillors there live better than you do. I’ll help you--that’s got to be done--at the start. Well, I’ll help you to get some simple merchandise and implements. Then you’ll be able to feed yourself and give a little to your father.” “What’s he driving at with all this?” Deniska said to himself. But Tikhon Ilitch had come to a decision, and wound up: “Yes, and ’tis time you married.” “So--oo, that’s it!” said Deniska to himself, and began in a leisurely way to roll himself a cigarette. “Very good,” he responded, with a barely perceptible trace of sadness, and without raising his eyelashes. “I’ll not resist. I might marry. ’Tis worse to go with the public women.” “Well, and that’s precisely the point,” put in Tikhon Ilitch, perturbed. “Only, brother, bear in mind that you must make a sensible marriage. ’Tis a good thing to have money on which to rear your children.” Deniska burst out laughing. “What are you guffawing about?” “Why, what you say, of course! Rear! As though they were chickens or pigs.” “They require food, just as much as chickens and pigs do.” “And whom shall I marry?” inquired Deniska, with a melancholy smile.