"Good-bye, my dear fellow."
"Good-bye, Malva!" whispered Vassili, without raising his eyes to her.
She wiped her lips leisurely with, her sleeve, threw her two white arms round his neck, and kissed him three times, on his lips and on his cheeks.
He was overcome, and muttered some indistinct words. Jakoff dropped his head to hide a smile; but Sereja was unmoved, and even yawned slightly as he looked up at the sky.
"It will be hot walking," he said.
"Nevermind!... Good-bye to you also, Jakoff."
"Good-bye."
They were face to face with one another, without knowing what to do. The sad word "good-bye," which had just been repeated so many times, awoke in the soul of Jakoff a feeling of tenderness for his father, but he did not know how to express it Should he embrace his father as Malva had done, or shake hands with him like Sereja?... And Vassili was wounded by this hesitation which was visible in the attitude of his son, and at the same time he felt something like shame. He remembered what had taken place at the cape, and he thought of Malva's kisses.
"Well, think of your mother!" said Vassili at last.
"Oh! yes!" replied Jakoff cordially. "Don't be anxious ... I know."