He knew by rude and shameful names, and
these names kindled in him an unpleasant, burning curiosity and
shame; his imagination worked obstinately, for he could not
picture it to himself in intelligible images. And in his soul he
did not believe that those relations were really so simple and
rude, as he had been told. When they had laughed at him and
assured him that they were such, and, indeed, could not be
otherwise, he smiled stupidly and confusedly, but thought
nevertheless that the relations with women did not have to be in
such a shameful form for everyone, and that, in all probability,
there was something purer, less rude and abusive to a human being.
Now looking at the dark-eyed working woman with admiration, Foma
distinctly felt just that rude inclination toward her, and he was
ashamed and afraid of something. And Yefim, standing beside him,
said admonitively:
"There you are staring at the woman, so that I cannot keep silence
any longer. You do not know her, but when she winks at you, you may,
because of your youth--and with a nature like yours--you may do such
a thing that we'll have to go home on foot by the shore.
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