ULYANA.  Come to your senses; what are you shouting for?  I saw with my own eyes how she went to the gentleman.

KRASNOV.  So that’s the kind of family I have!  My luck sticks in their throats.  You’re a barbarian, you jealous woman.  To kill you would be small penalty for your cursed tongue! [Raises his arm to strike her.

AFONYA. [Getting up from the couch] Quieter, you; quieter!  What are you making a row for?

KRASNOV.  I’ll hang you both on the same poplar!

AFONYA. [Shielding his sister] Don’t touch her, don’t lay a finger on her!  She’s telling the truth, the absolute truth.

KRASNOV.  You lie, you’re jealous, both of you!  It isn’t an hour, I tell you; it isn’t an hour since we sat here, kissing and embracing, looking into each other’s eyes and couldn’t get enough of it.

ULYANA.  Heavens, he’s out of his head!  You’ve lost your mind!  Go and see for yourself if you don’t believe us.

KRASNOV. [At the door] Lukerya Danilovna!

ULYANA.  Call, call; she ran over there, too. Enter KURITSYN.

SCENE IV

The same and KURITSYN

KURITSYN.  What are you yelling for, are you teaching your wife?  That’s good for her, so she won’t run away from home.

KRASNOV.  But where is she?  Where is she?  Spare me; you’re tearing me to pieces.

KURITSYN.  She’ll come back; she doesn’t spend the night there.

ULYANA.  You’d better calm yourself, brother; sit down.

KURITSYN.  We’ll all wait for her, the lady.

KRASNOV.  She petted me, fondled me, pressed me close to her heart.

TATYANA enters quietly and looks around.

SCENE V

The same and TATYANA

KRASNOV.  Where have you been?  Have you had a good time?  Speak, don’t hide it!  Why are you silent?  Speak!  You see:  everybody has come to view my shame.

ULYANA.  Why don’t you talk, you shameless creature!  You think you can get out of it by silence?  We saw how you went over there and came back.

KURITSYN.  Trample on her, brother, trample on her hard; she’ll talk.

KRASNOV.  Don’t torment me!  Tell me, what am I to think of you?  What?  Are these people lying?  Then I’ll turn ’em out, head over heels!  Or maybe they’re telling the truth?  Deliver me from my sinful thoughts!  Tell me, which of you is my enemy?  Were you there?

TATYANA.  What’s the use of lying, since you’ve all seen me.  I was there.

KRASNOV. [Beside himself] There, good people, there—­that’s how it is!  What shall I do now?  What can I—­pardon me, a sinner, for doing you wrong!  How other men’s wives behave, I don’t know; but this is the way in our family.

ULYANA.  Now we’ll watch your pride.  How will you show yourself among people now, shameless woman?  You’ve disgraced our brother, disgraced him!