LIZA.  Yes, ma’am. [She goes out.

GRISHA. [Approaches, swaggering, and stops in a free and easy pose]
Mistress!

MADAM ULANBEKOV.  What’s the matter with you?

GRISHA.  Let me go down-town; to-day’s a holiday there.

MADAM ULANBEKOV.  What do you want to go for?  To stare at the drunkards?

GRISHA. [Clasping his hands behind him] Please, ma’am.

MADAM ULANBEKOV.  No, most certainly not!

GRISHA.  Please do, mistress.

MADAM ULANBEKOV.  I tell you, positively, no!  One’s morals are just spoiled at these fairs.  Your greedy ears will take in all kinds of nastiness!  You’re still a boy; that’s no place for you!

GRISHA.  No, but please let me, ma’am.

MADAM ULANBEKOV.  You stay right here!  Put that nonsense out of your head!

GRISHA.  Well, I declare!  I slave, and slave, and can’t ever go anywhere!

VASILISA PEREGRINOVNA.  Oh me, oh my!  Oh me, oh my!  How spoiled you are!  How spoiled you are!

MADAM ULANBEKOV.  What are you cackling about?  Keep still!

VASILISA PEREGRINOVNA.  But how can I keep still, benefactress?  Such lack of feeling!  Such ingratitude!  It pierces the heart.

MADAM ULANBEKOV.  I command you to keep still, and you must keep still!

GRISHA.  Please let me, ma’am!

VASILISA PEREGRINOVNA.  As if the mistress didn’t love you, as if she didn’t fondle you, more, if anything, than her own son!

MADAM ULANBEKOV. [Stamping her foot] Shhh!....  I’ll turn you out!

GRISHA.  I want awfully to go to the fair; please let me, ma’am.

MADAM ULANBEKOV.  Well, go along then! but come back early!

GRISHA.  Yes, ma’am.

VASILISA PEREGRINOVNA.  Kiss the dear lady’s hand, you blockhead!

GRISHA.  What are you trying to teach me for?  I know my own business. [He kisses the mistress’s hand and goes out.

MADAM ULANBEKOV.  As for you, my dear, if I ever hear anything like this again, I’ll have them drive you off the place with brooms.

She goes out. VASILISA PEREGRINOVNA remains standing in a stupor.

SCENE VI

The same, except MADAM ULANBEKOV; then LIZA

LEONID.  Well, you caught it, didn’t you?  And you deserved it, too!

VASILISA PEREGRINOVNA.  I’ll have my turn yet.

LIZA enters.

LIZA. [Quietly to LEONID] Nadya sent me to say that we’ll come to the garden.

LEONID.  Give her a kiss from me.

GAVRILOVNA.  God give you health, master, for taking our part.  Any wretch can insult us; but there’s no one to take our part.  You’ll get a rich reward for that in the next world.

LEONID.  I’m always ready to help you. [He goes out to the right, with a caper.