“Darling, treat me to Lafitte with lemonade,” in accordance with established usage asked Little Manka, unbuttoning her corsage.

“Afterwards,” austerely answered the pedagogue.  “It will all depend upon yourself.  And then—­what sort of Lafitte can you have here?  Some muddy brew or other?”

“We have good Lafitte,” contradicted the girl touchily.  “Two roubles a bottle.  But if you are so stingy, then buy me beer at least.  All right?”

“Well, beer is all right...”

“And for me lemonade and oranges.  Yes?”

“A bottle of lemonade, yes; but oranges, no.  Later, maybe, I will treat you to champagne even.  It will all depend on you.  If you’ll exert yourself.”

“Then, daddy, I’ll ask for four bottles of beer and two bottles of lemonade?  Yes?  And for me just a little cake of chocolate.  All right?  Yes?”

“Two bottles of beer, a bottle of lemonade, and nothing more.  I don’t like when I’m bargained with.  If need be, I’ll order myself.”

“And may I invite a friend of mine?”

“No, let it be without any friends, if you please.”

Manka leaned out of the door into the corridor and called out resoundingly: 

“Housekeeper, dear!  Two bottles of beer and a bottle of lemonade for me.”

Simeon came with a tray and began with an accustomed rapidity to uncork the bottles.  Following him came Zociya, the housekeeper.

“There, now, how well you’ve made yourself at home here.  Here’s to your lawful marriage!” she congratulated them.

“Daddy, treat the little housekeeper with beer,” begged Manka.  “Drink, housekeeper dear.”

“Well, in that case here’s to your health, mister.  Somehow, your face seems kind of familiar to me?”

The German drank his beer, sucking and licking his moustache, and impatiently waited for the housekeeper to go away.  But she, having put down her glass and thanked him, said: 

“Let me get the money coming from you, mister.  As much as is coming for the beer and the time.  That’s both better for you and more convenient for us.”

The demand for the money went against the grain of the teacher, because it completely destroyed the sentimental part of his intentions.  He became angry: 

“What sort of boorishness is this, anyway!  It doesn’t look as if I were preparing to run away from here.  And besides, can’t you discriminate between people at all?  You can see that a man of respectability, in a uniform, has come to you, and not some tramp.  What sort of importunity is this!”

The housekeeper gave in a little.

“Now, don’t get offended, mister.  Of course, you’ll pay the young lady yourself for the visit.  I don’t think you will do her any wrong, she’s a fine girl among us.  But I must trouble you to pay for the beer and lemonade.  I, too, have to give an account to the proprietress.  Two bottles at fifty is a rouble and the lemonade thirty—­a rouble thirty.”