“No, the devil take it!” he cried out suddenly with obstinacy. “I don’t believe you! I don’t want to believe! Liuba” he called loudly the girl who had fallen asleep. “Liubochka!” The girl awoke, passed her palm over her lips, first to one side, then the other, yawned, and smiled, in a funny, child-like manner. “I wasn’t sleeping, I heard everything,” she said. “I only dozed off for a teeny-weeny bit.” “Liuba, do you want to go away from here with me?” asked Lichonin and took her by the hand. “But entirely, forever, to go away so’s never to return either to a brothel or the street?” Liuba questioningly, with perplexity, looked at Jennie, as though seeking from her an explanation of this jest. “That’s enough for you,” she said slyly. “You’re still studying yourself. Where do you come in, then, to take a girl and set her up?” “Not to set you up, Liuba ... I simply want to help you ... For it isn’t very sweet for you in a brothel, is it now!” “Naturally, it isn’t all sugar! If I was as proud as Jennechka, or so enticing like Pasha ... but I won’t get used to things here for anything ...” “Well, then, let’s go, let’s go! ...” entreated Lichonin. “Surely, you know some manual work—well, now, sewing something, embroidering, cutting?” “I don’t know anything!” answered Liuba bashfully and started laughing and turned red, covering her mouth with the elbow of her free arm. “What’s asked of us in the village, that I know, but anything more I don’t know. I can cook a little ... I lived at the priest’s—cooked for him.” “That’s splendid! That’s excellent!” Lichonin grew joyous. “I will assist you, you’ll open a dining room ... A cheap dining room, you understand ... I’ll advertise it for you ... The students will come! That’s magnificent! ...” “That’s enough of making fun of me!” retorted Liuba, a bit offended, and again looked askance and questioningly at Jennie. “He’s not joking,” answered Jennie with a voice which quavered strangely. “He’s in earnest, seriously.” “Here’s my word of honour that I’m serious! Honest to God, now!” the student caught her up with warmth and for some reason even made the sign of the cross in the direction of the empty corner. “And really,” said Jennie, “take Liubka. That’s not the same thing as taking me. I’m like an old dragoon’s nag, and used to it. You can’t make me over, neither with hay nor a stick. But Liubka is a simple girl and a kind one. And she hasn’t grown used to our life yet. What are you popping your eyes out at me for, you ninny? Answer when you’re asked. Well? Do you want to or don’t you want to?” “And why not? If they ain’t laughing, but for real ... And you, Jennechka, what would you advise me ...” “Oh, you’re such wood!” Jennie grew angry. “What’s better according to you—to rot on straw with a nose fallen through? To croak under the fence like a dog? Or to turn honest? Fool! You ought to kiss his hands; but no, you’re getting particular.”