"Serejka drank yesterday, and today Serejka's pocket is empty. Lend me twenty kopeks. I'll not return them." Iakov burst out laughing; Malva smiled. "Give me the money," went on the tramp. "I'll marry you for twenty kopeks if you like." "You're an odd fellow," said Iakov, "are you a priest?" "Imbecile question," replied Serejka. "Wasn't I servant to a priest at Ouglitch?" "I don't want to get married," said Iakov. "Give the money all the same, and I won't tell your father you're paying court to his queen," replied Serejka, passing his tongue over his dry and cracked lips. Iakov did not want to give twenty kopeks, but they had warned him to be on his guard when dealing with Serejka, and to put up with his whims. The tramp never demanded much, but if he was refused he spread evil tales about you or else he would beat you. So Iakov, sighing, put his hand in his pocket. "That's right," said Serejka, with a tone of encouragement, and he sat down beside them on the sand. "Always do what I tell you and you'll be happy. And you," he went on, turning to Malva--"when are you going to marry me? Better be quick. I don't like to wait long." "You are too ragged. Begin by sewing up your holes and then we'll see," replied Malva. Serejka regarded his rents with a reproachful air and shook his head. "Give me one of your skirts, that'll be better." "Yes, I can," said Malva, laughing. "I'm serious. You must have an old one you don't want." "You'd do better to buy yourself a pair of trousers." "I prefer to drink the money." Serejka rose and, jingling his twenty kopeks, shuffled off, followed by a strange smile from Malva. When he was some distance away, Iakov said: "In our village such a braggart would goon have been put in his place. Here, every one seems afraid of him." Malva looked at Iakov and replied, disdainfully: "You don't know his worth." "There's nothing to know. He's worth five kopeks a hundred." She did not reply, but watched the play of the waves as they chased one after the other, swaying the fishing boat. The mast inclined now to right, now to left, and the bow rose and then fell suddenly, striking the water with a loud splash. "Why don't you go?" asked Malva. "Where?" he asked. "You wanted to go to town." "I shan't go now." "Well, go to your father's." "And you?" "What?" "Shall you go, too?" "No." "Then I shan't either." "Are you going to stay round me all day?" "I don't want your company so much as that," replied Iakov, offended.