Her cheeks were dark, but her teeth gleamed.
"Go to the devil!" shouted Peredonov.
The pug-nosed woman disappeared as if she had not been there at all.
The evening came. A melancholy wind blew in the chimney. A slow rain tapped on the window quietly and persistently. It was quite black outside. Volodin was at the Peredonovs'—Peredonov had invited him early that morning to the supper.
"Don't let anyone in. Do you hear, Klavdiushka?" shouted Peredonov.
Varvara smiled. Peredonov muttered:
"All sorts of women are prowling around here. A watch should be kept. One got into my bedroom; she asked to be taken on as cook. But why should I have a pug-nosed cook?"
Volodin laughed bleatingly and said:
"There are women walking about in the street, but they have nothing to do with us, and we shan't let them join us at our table."