The day after the quarrel Jakoff went off with a party of workmen in a boat, which was taken out by a tug. They were going out to a distance of about thirty versts to fish for sturgeon in a bay.

He returned to the fishery at the end of five days, alone and in a sailing-boat; he had been sent ashore to fetch provisions. It was noon when Jakoff arrived; the workmen were resting after their dinner. It was intolerably hot, the sand burnt the feet, the fish-bones and scales pricked them. Jakoff walked carefully towards the huts, wishing all the time he had put his shoes on. He hesitated about returning to the boat, he wanted to eat his dinner quickly and to find Malva. During the tedious hours at sea he had often thought of her. He would have liked to have known if his father and she had seen each other, and what had passed between them.... Perhaps the old man had beaten her? That wouldn't have mattered; it would have made her more gentle.

Otherwise she was too provoking, too bold. The deserted fishery slumbered: the long wooden huts with all the windows standing open, seemed exhausted with the heat. In the inspector's office a child was crying.... Behind a heap of barrels the whisper of voices was heard.

Jakoff went in that direction; he thought he distinguished Malva's voice. But when he reached the barrels he stopped and paused. In the shade, lying on his back, his arms under his head, was the red-headed Sereja. Near him, on one side, was Vassili, and on the other side Malva.

Jakoff thought, "What is my father doing here? Has he left his employment so as to be near Malva, and to watch her? The old devil!... If only my mother knew what he was up to?" Should he speak to them or not?

"That's it," Sereja was saying. "Therefore you must say good-bye to each other. And then be off, and go and scratch your land ..."

Jakoff started, and his face grew joyful.

"I am going," said Vassili.

Then Jakoff stepped forward boldly.

"Good-morning, all of you!"

His father threw a rapid glance at him, and then turned away. Malva did not move. Sereja kicked out his leg, and said in a forced voice—

"Here is our well-beloved son Jakoff, who is returning from a far country."

Then he added in his ordinary voice—

"Let us skin him alive, and mate drums out of his skin."

Malva laughed softly.

"It's hot," said Jakoff, sitting down by them.

Vassili glanced at him once more, as if unwillingly.

"I have been expecting you here all the morning, Jakoff. The inspector told, me that you were to come." His voice seemed to the young man to be weaker than usual, and his face seemed altered.

"I have come to fetch some provisions," said Jakoff.

And he asked Sereja for a cigarette.

"I have no tobacco for a fool like you!" replied the latter without moving.

"I'm going home, Jakoff!" said Vassili gravely, digging at the sand with his finger.

"Why?" asked his son innocently.

"Never mind.... Shall you remain here?"

"Yes, I shall remain.... What could both of us do at home?"

"Very well. I have nothing to say. Do as you choose I You are no longer a child. Only remember that I shan't live very much longer. I shall keep alive perhaps, but I don't know how I shall manage to work.... I have lost the habit of working on the land.... Don't forget therefore that you have your mother there."

It was evidently painful to him to speak. The words seemed to stick between his teeth. Whilst he twisted his beard, his hand trembled.

Malva watched him. Sereja had half closed one eye, and with the other which was wide open he watched Jakoff. The boy was glad, but fearing to betray his feelings, he was silent, and hung his head.

"Don't forget your mother therefore, Jakoff. Remember that you are all that is left to her!" said Vassilli.

"I know!" said Jakoff, shrugging his shoulders.

"That's all right if you know it," added his lather, with a distrustful glance. "I only warn you not to forget it."

"All right!"

Vassili sighed deeply. They were all silent for some minutes.

Then Malva said—

"They will soon be ringing the bell for work."

"I am going," said Vassili, rising.

And they all rose with him.

"Good-bye, Sereja. If you ever come to the Volga, perhaps you will remember to come and see me?... The District of Simbirsk, the village of Malso, near Nikolo-Livolvsk."

"All right," said Sereja.

He shook Vassili's hand, holding it for a long time in his big, thick-veined paw, covered with red hairs. He smiled into the sad, serious face of Vassili.

"Nikolo-Livolvsk is a big town, every one knows it, and we are only four versts from there," the peasant explained.

"All right, I will come and see you if I am that way."

"Good-bye."

"Good-bye, my dear fellow."

"Good-bye, Malva!" whispered Vassili, without raising his eyes to her.

She wiped her lips leisurely with, her sleeve, threw her two white arms round his neck, and kissed him three times, on his lips and on his cheeks.

He was overcome, and muttered some indistinct words. Jakoff dropped his head to hide a smile; but Sereja was unmoved, and even yawned slightly as he looked up at the sky.

"It will be hot walking," he said.

"Nevermind!... Good-bye to you also, Jakoff."

"Good-bye."

They were face to face with one another, without knowing what to do. The sad word "good-bye," which had just been repeated so many times, awoke in the soul of Jakoff a feeling of tenderness for his father, but he did not know how to express it Should he embrace his father as Malva had done, or shake hands with him like Sereja?... And Vassili was wounded by this hesitation which was visible in the attitude of his son, and at the same time he felt something like shame. He remembered what had taken place at the cape, and he thought of Malva's kisses.

"Well, think of your mother!" said Vassili at last.

"Oh! yes!" replied Jakoff cordially. "Don't be anxious ... I know."

And he shook his head.

"That's all Be happy! May God protect you.... Don't think ill of me............