"Are you not a peasant?"
"I am citizen," replied Sereja with pride. "A citizen of the town of Ouglitch."
"And I of Pavlitcha," said Malva dreamily.
"I have no one to protect me. But those devils of peasants, they can live well. They have a municipality and everything."
"What is a municipality?" asked Malva.
"A municipality? Devil take me if I know!... It's something made for peasants; it's their council.... Don't let's talk any more of that. Let's talk of our own business. Will you arrange this matter, tell me? No harm will come of it. They will just knock each other about a little.... I will help you.... Vassili beat you, did he?... Then let his son give you back the blows that you have received."
"Why not?" said Malva, smiling. "It wouldn't be a bad thing."
"Just think a little, isn't it amusing to see how people knock each other about because of you? You just wag your tongue once or twice, and it's done."
Sereja for some time went on exposing to her in a flattering light, and with much enthusiasm the charms of the part which he proposed she should play. He was both joking and serious, and was himself carried away.
"Ah! if only I were a beautiful woman! How I would turn the world topsy-turvy!" he cried at the end of their talk.