You just look at the commotion out there!' And really, on looking out of the window they saw an unusual bustle going on in the hut.

Girls ran in and out, now for one thing and now for another.
'Will it soon be ready ?' cried Beletski.
'Very soon! Why?
Is Grandad hungry ?' and from the hut came the sound of ringing laughter.
Ustenka, plump, small, rosy, and pretty, with her sleeves turned up, ran into Beletski's hut to fetch some plates.
'Get away or I shall smash the plates!' she squeaked, escaping from Beletski.

'You'd better come and help,' she shouted to Olenin, laughing.

'And don't forget to get some refreshments for the girls.' ('Refreshments' meaning spicebread and sweets.) 'And has Maryanka come ?' 'Of course! She brought some dough.' 'Do you know,' said Beletski, 'if one were to dress Ustenka up and clean and polish her up a bit, she'd be better than all our beauties.
Have you ever seen that Cossack woman who married a colonel; she was charming! Borsheva?
What dignity! Where do they get it...' 'I have not seen Borsheva, but I think nothing could be better than the costume they wear here.' 'Ah, I'm first-rate at fitting into any kind of life,' said Beletski with a sigh of pleasure.

'I'll go and see what they are up to.' He threw his dressing-gown over his shoulders and ran out, shouting, 'And you look after the "refreshments".' Olenin sent Beletski's orderly to buy spice-bread and honey; but it suddenly seemed to him so disgusting to give money (as if he were bribing someone) that he gave no definite reply to the orderly's question: 'How much spice-bread with peppermint, and how much with honey ?' 'Just as you please.' 'Shall I spend all the money,' asked the old soldier impressively.