# III explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by Aleksandr Kuprin.

## What happens

In the landlady's room, a domestic scene unfolds as Alychka, Adka, Edka, Romka, and Lieutenant Tchijhevich gather for tea. The lieutenant boasts of his lucky touch and recounts a gambling story involving Captain Gorojhevsky. He makes a subtle advance toward Alychka, but is interrupted by the landlady's return.

## Themes in this chapter

### Human Observation and Psychology

The chapter captures intimate domestic dynamics and subtle flirtation, revealing characters' desires and pretenses.

## Character check-ins

### Alychka

Sits in the open window, cheeks flushed, watching the night scene; receives a covert kiss from Lieutenant Tchijhevich.

### Lieutenant Tchijhevich

Unbuttons his waistcoat, boasts of his lucky touch, tells a gambling anecdote, and makes an advance on Alychka.

### Anna Friedrichovna

The landlady, sighs contentedly about full rooms, steps out briefly to give a towel.

### Romka

Returns with a black eye, drinks tea noisily.

## Key lines

> The lamp was burning in the landlady’s room. Alychka sat Turkish fashion in the open window, watching the dark heavy mass of water, lit by electric lamps, wavering below, and the gentle motion of the scant dead green of the poplars along the quay.

In the landlady's room, Alychka sat cross-legged by the open window, gazing at the dark water shimmering under electric lights and the barely moving, withered poplar leaves along the quay.

_Establishes the setting and Alychka's pensive mood._

> When I came back, everything began to look up.

Since my return, things have improved.

_Lieutenant Tchijhevich attributes the upturn in fortunes to his presence._

> He quickly lifted the thick plait of her hair and kissed her beneath her hair on her warm thin neck, greedily smelling the perfume of her skin.

He swiftly raised her thick braid and kissed her warm, slender neck, inhaling the scent of her skin.

_A moment of covert intimacy between the lieutenant and Alychka._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_se/chapters/iii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_se/chapters