And Vassili felt hot all over, as he listened to her whispering voice.
"That's enough now!... Devil take you!" he replied moodily. "Are you satisfied?"
"Vassia! and I, who thought you did not care for me any more. I said to myself, 'Now that his son is here, he will send me away on his account.'"
And she burst out into a strange exaggerated laugh.
"Fool!" said Vassili, smiling involuntarily.
He felt himself in the wrong, and pitied her; but recalling the words she had used at first, and which had roused his anger, he replied gruffly—
"My son has nothing to do in the matter.... And if I have beaten you it was because you deserved it: why did you nag at me?"
"I did it on purpose, to try you."
And with provoking playfulness, she rubbed against his shoulder. He glanced hastily towards the hut, and then kissed the young girl.
"To try me indeed!... a fine idea ... now you see what you have got."