It was already late in the night when Olenin came out of Beletski's hut following Maryanka and Ustenka.

He saw in the dark street before him the gleam of the girl's white kerchief.

The golden moon was descending towards the steppe.

A silvery mist hung over the village.

All was still; there were no lights anywhere and one heard only the receding footsteps of the young women.