ARINA.  What a racket!  Stop!  Some one seems to be knocking. [All listen]
That’s true!  They are knocking.

PELAGEYA EGOROVNA.  Go and open the door.

ARINA. [Goes out, then returns] He’s come back himself! All rise.

SCENE VII

The same with GORDEY KARPYCH and KORSHUNOV

GORDEY KARPYCH. [To the mummers] What’s this rabble!—­Get out! [To his wife] Wife!  Pelageya Egorovna!  Greet my guest. [Speaks in a low voice] You’ve ruined me!

PELAGEYA EGOROVNA.  You are welcome, Afrikan Savvich, you are welcome.

KORSHUNOV.  Good evening, Pelageya Egorovna.  He, he, he!  It’s very cheerful here!  We’ve struck it just at the right time.

PELAGEYA EGOROVNA.  Yes, here I am with the girls.  Yes, I’m always with the girls.  It’s holiday time; I want to give my daughter some fun.

GORDEY KARPYCH.  You are welcome, Afrikan Savvich; make yourself at home. [AFRIKAN SAVVICH seats himself in the armchair at the table.  To his wife] Turn the hussies out.

KORSHUNOV.  Why turn them out!  Who’s going to turn the girls out.  He, he, he!  They’ll sing a song, and we’ll listen and watch them, and we’ll give them some money, but not turn them out.

GORDEY KARPYCH.  As you wish, Afrikan Savvich!  Only I am abashed before you!  But don’t conclude from this that we are all uneducated—­this is all the wife; nothing can knock anything into her head. [To his wife] How many times have I told you:  if you want to have a party in the evening, call in the musicians, and have things in good form.  You can’t say I deny you anything.

PELAGEYA EGOROVNA.  Well, what’s the use of musicians—­for us old women? You can amuse yourself with them!

GORDEY KARPYCH.  There, that’s the idea of life she has!  It makes you laugh to hear her.

PELAGEYA EGOROVNA.  What do you mean? Idea, idea!  It would be better for you to give your guest something to eat.  Would you like something, Afrikan Savvich?  Some wine with us old women? [Pours out Madeira.

GORDEY KARPYCH. [Severely] Wife!  Have you really gone out of your mind!  Hasn’t Afrikan Savvich ever seen Madeira before!  Order champagne—­a half dozen—­and be quick about it!  Then order lighted candles in the reception-room where the new furniture is.  That will give quite another effect.

PELAGEYA EGOROVNA.  I will do it myself at once. [Rises Arinushka, come on.  Excuse me, my dear neighbors.

FIRST GUEST. We will come with you, my dear; it’s time we were going home.

SECOND GUEST. It’s time, it’s time!  The nights are dark, and the dogs in the lanes are fierce.

FIRST GUEST. Yes, fierce; very fierce! [They bow and go out.

SCENE VIII