"I can't stand pomade," said Liudmilla with annoyance. "You're smeared up like a young lady!"
She ran her hand down his hair and struck his cheek with her grease-smeared palm.
"Please don't you dare to use pomade," she said.
Sasha felt flustered.
"Very well, I won't do it," he said. "How severe you are! But you scent yourself with perfumes!"
"Scents are one thing, but pomade is another, you stupid. A fine comparison!" exclaimed Liudmilla. "I never pomade myself. Why should one glue one's hair down! It's different with scents. Now, let me scent you. Would you like it? Let us say lilac. Would you like it?"
"Yes, I would like it," said Sasha.
It was pleasant to think that he would take that scent home again and astonish Kokovkina.
"Who would like it?" asked Liudmilla, taking the bottle and looking archly at Sasha.
"I'd like it," repeated Sasha.