"Well, Ardalyon Borisitch, you're always saying something nasty," she complained.
The others laughed appreciatively. Volodin opened his eyes wide, twitched his forehead and explained:
"When your ears start withering it's best to pull them off, because if you don't they'll dangle and swing to and fro."
Volodin made a gesture with his fingers to indicate how the withered ears would dangle. Grushina snapped at him:
"That's the sort you are. You can't make a joke yourself. You have to use other people's."
Volodin was offended and said with dignity:
"I can make a joke myself, Maria Ossipovna, but when we're having a pleasant time in company, why shouldn't I keep up someone else's joke? And if you don't like it, you can do what you please. Give and take."
"That's reasonable, Pavel Vassilyevitch," said Routilov encouragingly.
"Pavel Vassilyevitch can stand up for himself," said Prepolovenskaya with a sly smile. Varvara had just cut off a piece of bread and, absorbed by Volodin's ingenious remarks, held the knife in the air. The edge glittered. Peredonov felt a sudden fear—she might suddenly take it into her head to slash him.
"Varvara!" he exclaimed. "Put that knife down!"