II

A parlor.  Rear centre, a door opening into the garden.  Doors at the sides; in the centre a round table.

SCENE I

From a side door there enter a footman with a samovar and a maid with a tea-service; they place both on the table and go out. GAVRILOVNA and POTAPYCH enter after them.  GAVRILOVNA prepares the tea.  VASILISA PEREGRINOVNA enters from the garden.

VASILISA PEREGRINOVNA.  My dear, you always serve me only water.

GAVRILOVNA.  It isn’t good for you to drink strong tea, madam.

VASILISA PEREGRINOVNA.  It’s not your business to worry about me!

GAVRILOVNA.  It dries up the chest, and you’re all dried up as it is.

VASILISA PEREGRINOVNA.  What a life!  What a life!  I am not dried up from tea-drinking, my dear, but from the insults of the world.

GAVRILOVNA.  Insults!  You insult everybody yourself, as if something were stirring you up!

VASILISA PEREGRINOVNA.  Don’t you dare talk to me like that.  Just remember who you are.  I once owned serfs myself; at my place, such people as you didn’t dare peep, they walked the chalk.  I didn’t let your sort get high-headed!

GAVRILOVNA.  That time’s gone by.  God gives a vicious cow no horns.

VASILISA PEREGRINOVNA.  Oh, you monsters, wretches!  You want me to die.  Soon I shall die, soon; my soul feels its fast approaching end! Raising her eyes heavenward Shelter me from men, O lid of my coffin!  Take me to thee, moist earth!  Then you’ll be happy; then you’ll be joyful!

POTAPYCH.  We?  What’s it to us?....  Tend to your own business.

GAVRILOVNA.  While God is patient with your sins.

VASILISA PEREGRINOVNA.  For my sins I have already been tortured here.  I mourn now the sins of others.

GAVRILOVNA.  It would be better for you not to bother with other people’s sins.  Now you’re getting ready to die, yet you talk about the sins of others.  Aren’t you afraid?

VASILISA PEREGRINOVNA.  Afraid of what?  Why should I be afraid?

GAVRILOVNA.  Of that little black man with the hook.  He’s waiting for you now, I guess.

VASILISA PEREGRINOVNA.  Where am I?  Where am I?  My God!  Just as if I were in a slough; monsters....

From the left side MADAM ULANBEKOV, NADYA, LIZA, and GRISHA come in.

SCENE II

The same and MADAM ULANBEKOV, GRISHA, NADYA, and LIZA.

VASILISA PEREGRINOVNA.  Did our benefactress deign to attend prayer service?

MADAM ULANBEKOV.  Yes, I went to vespers in town; to-day is a holiday there.

VASILISA PEREGRINOVNA.  Did you distribute generous alms among the people present?

MADAM ULANBEKOV.  No, I only called in Pustaya Street at old man NEGLIGENTOV’s.  He asked me to set up his nephew; you see, the nephew is my godson.  I’m sorry for these people!