Office in the house of BOLSHOV.  Rear centre a door; on the left a staircase leading to the floor above.

SCENE I

TISHKA near the front of the stage, with a brush

TISHKA.  What a life, what a life!  Sweep the floors before daylight!  And is it my business to sweep floors?  Things aren’t the same here as with decent folks.  Now if the other bosses have a boy, he lives with the boys; that is, he hangs around the shop.  But with me it’s now here, now there, tramp the pavement all day as if you were crazy.  You’ll soon feather your nest—­I don’t think!  Decent people keep a porter for running around; but at our place he lies on the stove with the kittens, or he hangs around with the cook; but you’re in demand.  At other people’s it’s easy-going; if you get into mischief now and then, they make allowances for your youth.  But at our house—­if it isn’t he, then it’s somebody else; either the old man or the old woman will give you a hiding; otherwise there’s the clerk Lazar, or there’s Fominishna, or there’s—­any old rascal can lord it over you.  What a cursed life it is!  But if you want to tear yourself away from the house and go somewhere with friends to play three-card monte, or have a game of handball—­don’t think of such a thing!  Now, really, there’s something feels wrong in my head. [He climbs upon a chair on his knees and looks in the mirror] How do you do, Tikhon Savostyanovich!  How are you getting along?  Are you all top notch?  Now, then, Tishka, just do a stunt. [He makes a grimace] That’s what! [Another] Exactly like——­

[He bursts out laughing.

SCENE II

TISHKA and PODKHALYUZIN, who steals in and seizes him by the collar.

PODKHALYUZIN.  What are you doing there, you little imp?

TISHKA.  What?  You know what!  I was wiping off dust!

PODKHALYUZIN.  Were you wiping it off with your tongue?  As if you could find any dust on the mirror!  I’ll show you some dust!  You’re showing off!  I’ll just warm up the nape of your neck so you’ll know it.

TISHKA.  Know what?  Now what have I done?

PODKHALYUZIN.  What have you done?  What have you done?  Say another word and you’ll find out what!  Just let out a peep!

TISHKA.  Yes, a peep!  I’m going to tell the boss, and then you’ll catch it!

PODKHALYUZIN.  Going to tell the boss!  What’s your boss to me?  Why, if it came to that—­what’s your boss to me!—­Why, you’re just a kid that has to be taught; what were you thinking of?  If we didn’t wallop you imps there’d be no good come of you.  That’s the regular way of doing things.  I, myself, my boy, have come through fire, water, and copper pipes.

TISHKA.  I know you did.

PODKHALYUZIN.  Shhh—­you little devil! [Threatening him.