"What are you neighing at?" asked Grushina.
"Nartanovitch, the schoolboy, is going to singe Marta's dress. I advised him to," he explained.
"Let him just do it! He's not such a fool," said Grushina.
"Of course he'll do it," said Peredonov confidently. "Brothers always quarrel with their sisters. When I was a kid I always played tricks on my sisters—I pummelled the little ones and I used to spoil the older ones' clothes."
"Everyone doesn't," said Routilov. "I don't quarrel with my sisters."
"Well, what do you do? Kiss them?" asked Peredonov.
"You are a swine and a scoundrel, Ardalyon Borisitch, I'll give you a black eye," said Routilov calmly.
"I don't like such jokes," said Peredonov, and moved away from Routilov.
"Yes," thought Peredonov, "he might really do it. He's got such a mean face."
"She has only one dress, a black one," he went on, referring to Marta.