Jakoff stopped, and watched her with curiosity.
Her cotton blouse open in front half showed one of her shoulders; and this shoulder looked so white, so tempting!
The waves rocked the boat, and Malva rose and fell with its movements, so that her bare feet almost at times touched the water.
"I say! Have you been bathing?" called out Jakoff.
She turned her face towards him, glanced at her feet; then continuing to comb her hair, she replied—
"Yes, I've been bathing.... But why did you get up so early?"
"Well, you are up early too!"
"I'm not here to set you an example."
Jakoff did not reply.
"If you follow my way of living, you will have to look out for yourself!" she continued.