“What swells!” said Nazárka, “Just like long-skirted choristers,” and he walked a few steps down the road imitating the soldiers.
Again everyone broke into peals of laughter.
Lukáshka came slowly up to Maryánka.
“And where have you put up the chief?” he asked.
Maryánka thought for a moment.
“We’ve let him have the new hut,” she said.
“And is he old or young,” asked Lukáshka, sitting down beside her.
“Do you think I’ve asked?” answered the girl. “I went to get him some chikhir and saw him sitting at the window with Daddy Eróshka. Red-headed he seemed. They’ve brought a whole cartload of things.”
And she dropped her eyes.
“Oh, how glad I am that I got leave from the cordon!” said Lukáshka, moving closer to the girl and looking straight in her eyes all the time.