Then when Joseph came into the apartment looking like a bouquet, and threw a glance around him like a recognized commander, the neighbours again said:—
“So Joseph, my lad, you have but to look out for a sweetheart somewhere, your father yonder says he should like to have a daughter in his house, the sooner the better, and his wife agrees with him.”
“You are rather late with your counsels,” suggested another, “he hath pretty well selected already.” And at this the speaker winked at Barushka, who sat near the middle of the table and who, when these words were uttered, bowed her head over her plate that people might not see her face.
“Prithee, who’ll have me”, inquired Joseph airily, and at these words Barushka again raised her head from her plate; Joseph went out of the room.
After this some of the neighbours said almost in a breath, “Oh! Barushka, pray, what makes you so hot?”
“I am not hot”, said Barushka, and looked about her with determination into which she had partially nudged herself in order that, if possible, she might still conceal what had now no further need of concealment.
After this a burst of music was heard from the hall, and in the dining-room all laughed at what they had said, and continued to say more like it.
When the music was over in the hall, Loyka, the peasant proprietor, rose and posted himself with some solemnity by the table. He wished to address the assemblage. Just before he spoke he looked at his wife, and when she nodded assent, he cleared his throat and thus began:—
“Dear neighbours and neighbours’ wives! As to us old folk,” and here he pointed to himself, his wife, and his neighbour Kmoch, the father of Barushka, “we have quite come to an agreement. And so if Barushka has nothing to say against it, we will settle the day of the wedding, and you are all invited to it.”
Here Loyka lapsed into silence: he looked all over the assemblage to see what sort of effect his words had produced. They had produced an effect.
“I could have told you so just this minute.”
“Yes, God grant them happiness, they will make a nice couple.”
“Barushka is at ease now, she is not hot any longer.”
