The old man helped him by asking for a drink, and they had a drink.

Olenin drank with Eroshka, with the other Cossack, and again with Eroshka, and the more he drank the heavier was his heart.
But the two old men grew merry.

The girls climbed onto the oven, where they sat whispering and looking at the men, who drank till it was late.
Olenin did not talk, but drank more than the others.

The Cossacks were shouting.

The old woman would not let them have any more chikhir, and at last turned them out.