Vladya was frightened and turned away his eyes.
"I'm sorry," he added timidly, "I didn't do it on purpose."
"And do you believe in the evil eye?" asked Marta.
"Of course the evil eye is a superstition," said Peredonov angrily. "But it's so awfully rude to stare at people."
There was an awkward silence for the next few minutes.
"You're very poor, aren't you?" said Peredonov suddenly.
"Well, we're not rich," said Marta, "but still we're not so poor. Each one of us has a little something put aside."
Peredonov looked at her incredulously and said:
"I'm sure you're poor. You go barefoot at home every day."
"We don't do it from poverty," exclaimed Vladya.