Vassili laughed an indulgent laugh.
"Oh! you, you are both bold and weak! You talk like a woman. In the village woman is a necessity of life, whilst here she is one of its pleasures."
And after a few moments' silence he added—
"And one of its sins."
Jakoff, when they had finished their conversation, said with a dreamy sigh—
"The sea looks as if it stretched away for ever and ever."
All three looked out over the limitless expanse.
"Ah! if only all that were earth!" exclaimed the lad, stretching out his arms, "good black earth!... and if only we could plough it!"
"Ah! that's right!" said his father good-humouredly.
By his gesture he approved of his son, standing there, flushed with the burning desire that he had just expressed. It was pleasant to him to hear these words, to witness this love for the earth; and he thought that perhaps this same love might recall Jakoff imperiously back to the village, far from temptations. He himself could then remain with Malva, and all would go well as it used to do....