She consented on condition that they should put money on her plate, as is the custom at weddings.
'What fiend brought me to this disgusting feast ?' thought Olenin, rising to go away.
'Where are you off to ?' 'I'll fetch some tobacco,' he said, meaning to escape, but Beletski seized his hand.
'I have some money,' he said to him in French.
'One can't go away, one has to pay here,' thought Olenin bitterly, vexed at his own awkwardness.

'Can't I really behave like Beletski?
I ought not to have come, but once I am here I must not spoil their fun.
I must drink like a Cossack,' and taking the wooden bowl (holding about eight tumblers) he almost filled it with chikhir and drank it almost all.

The girls looked at him, surprised and almost frightened, as he drank.

It seemed to them strange and not right.

Ustenka brought them another glass each, and kissed them both.