SCENE IX

The same and LYUBOV GORDEYEVNA, ANNA IVANOVNA, MASHA, and LIZA.

ANNA IVANOVNA.  Peace, honest company!

RAZLYULYAYEV.  I welcome you to our shanty.

MITYA.  Our respects!  Please come in!  What good wind brings you here?

ANNA IVANOVNA.  No wind—­we just took it into our heads and came.  Gordey Karpych has gone out, and Pelageya Egorovna has gone to lie down, so now we are free!  Be as jolly as you please!

MITYA.  I humbly beg you to sit down.

They sit down; MITYA seats himself opposite LYUBOV GORDEYEVNA; RAZLYULYAYEV walks about.

ANNA IVANOVNA.  It grew dull sitting silent cracking nuts.  “Come on, girls,” said I, “and see the boys,” and that suited the girls.

LYUBOV GORDEYEVNA.  What stories you do make up!  We never thought of coming here—­that was your idea.

ANNA IVANOVNA.  Much you didn’t!  You were the first!  Everybody knows, if a person wants a thing, then he thinks about it; the boys of the girls, and the girls of the boys.

RAZLYULYAYEV.  Ha, ha, ha!  Anna Ivanovna, you have said it exactly.

LYUBOV GORDEYEVNA.  Not a bit of it!

MASHA. [To LIZA] Oh, how embarrassing!

LIZA.  Anna Ivanovna, you are just saying what isn’t true.

ANNA IVANOVNA.  Oh, you modest thing!  I’d like to say a word—­but it wouldn’t be nice before the boys!—­I’ve been a girl myself.  I know all about it.

LYUBOV GORDEYEVNA.  There are girls and girls!

MASHA.  Oh, how embarrassing!

LIZA.  What you say sounds very strange to us, and, I must say, it’s disconcerting.

RAZLYULYAYEV.  Ha, ha, ha!

ANNA IVANOVNA.  What were we talking about just now up-stairs?  Do you want me to tell?  Shall I tell them?  Well, have you calmed down now?

RAZLYULYAYEV.  Ha, ha, ha!

ANNA IVANOVNA.  What are you opening your mouth for?  It wasn’t about you—­don’t you worry.

RAZLYULYAYEV.  Even if it wasn’t about me, still it may be there is some one who thinks about me.  I know what I know! [Dances to a tune.

    “Who does not love a hussar! 
    Life without love would be sad!”

ANNA IVANOVNA. [Walking towards GUSLIN] Well, guitar player, when will you marry me?

GUSLIN. [Playing on the guitar] When I can get permission from Gordey Karpych.  What’s the use of hurrying!  It isn’t raining on us! [Nods his head] Come along here, Anna Ivanovna; I’ve got something to say to you.

She goes to him, and sits near him; he whispers in her ear, looking towards LYUBOV GORDEYEVNA and MITYA.

ANNA IVANOVNA.  What do you say!—­Really?

GUSLIN.  It’s really true.

ANNA IVANOVNA.  Well, then, all right; keep quiet! [They talk in a whisper.