Sanine

Leaving the road, the horses trotted over the moist, rich turf in which

the carriage-wheels made deep ruts. There was a pleasant odour of earth

and of green leaves.

At the appointed place, a meadow, seated on the grass were a young

student and two girls wearing the dress of Little Russia. Being the

first to arrive, they were busily preparing tea and light refreshments.

When the carriage stopped, the horses snorted and whisked away flies

with their tails. Everybody jumped down, enlivened and refreshed by the

drive and the sweet country air. Lialia bestowed resounding kisses upon

the two girls who were making tea, and introduced them to her brother

and to Sanine, whom they regarded with shy curiosity. Lida suddenly

remembered that the two men did not know each other. "Allow me," she

said to Yourii, "to introduce to you my brother Vladimir." Sanine

smiled and grasped Yourii's hand, but the latter scarcely noticed him.

Sanine found everybody interesting and liked making new acquaintances.

Yourii considered that very few people in this world were interesting,

and always felt disinclined to meet strangers. Ivanoff knew Sanine

slightly and liked what he had about him. He was the first to go up to

him and begin talking, while Semenoff ceremoniously shook hands with

him.

"Now we can all enjoy ourselves after these tiresome formalities,"

cried Lialia.

At first a certain stiffness prevailed, for many of the party were

complete strangers to each other. But as they began to eat, when the

men had had several liqueurs, and the ladies wine, such constraint gave

way to mirth. They drank freely, and there was much laughter and

joking. Some ran races and others clambered up the hill-side. All

around was so calm and bright and the green woods so fair, that nothing

sad or sinister could cast its shadows on their souls.

"If everybody were to jump about and run like this," said Riasantzeff,

flushed and breathless, "nine-tenths of the world's diseases would not

exist."

"Nor the vices either," added Lialia.

"Well, as regards vice there will always be plenty of that," observed

Ivanoff, and although no one thought such a remark either witty or

wise, it provoked hearty laughter.

As they were having tea, it was the sunset hour. The river gleamed like

gold, and through the trees fell slanting rays of warm red light.

"Now for the boat!" cried Lida, as, holding up her skirts, she ran down

to the river-bank. "Who'll get there first?"

Some ran after her, while others followed at a more leisurely pace, and

amid much laughter they all got into a large painted boat.