'Why don't you pass me the decanter!' Having filled the decanter with cool red wine, Maryanka handed it to Vanyusha.
'Give the money to Mother,' she said, pushing away the hand in which he held the money.
Vanyusha laughed.
'Why are you so cross, little dear ?' he said good-naturedly, irresolutely shuffling with his feet while the girl was covering the barrel.
She began to laugh.
'And you! Are you kind ?' 'We, my master and I, are very kind,' Vanyusha answered decidedly.

'We are so kind that wherever we have stayed our hosts were always very grateful.

It's because he's generous.' The girl stood listening.
'And is your master married ?' she asked.
'No.

The master is young and unmarried, because noble gentlemen can never marry young,' said Vanyusha didactically.
'A likely thing! See what a fed-up buffalo he is--and too young to marry! Is he the chief of you all ?' she asked.
'My master is a cadet; that means he's not yet an officer, but he's more important than a general--he's an important man! Because not only our colonel, but the Tsar himself, knows him,' proudly explained Vanyusha.

'We are not like those other beggars in the line regiment, and our papa himself was a Senator.