KARP and LUKERYA

KARP.  What do you want?

LUKERYA.  Valentin Pavlich.

KARP.  What do you want of him?

LUKERYA.  If I want to see him, of course it must be necessary.

KARP.  Do you want help of some sort?

LUKERYA.  How rude!  Aren’t you aware that the Zhmigulin ladies were always welcome at the home of your master’s mother?  I am also very intimately acquainted with Valentin Pavlich.

KARP.  You are?  I doubt it.

LUKERYA.  Maybe you stupidly misunderstand my words in some way that’s beyond me. [Sits down] Your business is to go right off and announce me.

KARP.  I tell you he’s asleep now.

LUKERYA.  That can’t be, because I’ve just seen him through the window.

KARP.  Well, I see I can’t do anything with you; I’ll have to announce you. [Goes out.]

LUKERYA.  In these modern times, these new changes have done a lot to spoil people.  He ought to have found out first what my rank was, and then treated me accordingly.  And it’s not his business whether I came to ask for aid or not.  To be sure, people of our station are often engaged in that, but not all.  Maybe Valentin Pavlich has become so proud since he has lived in St. Petersburg that he will not wish to see me.  But I’m so anxious to show every one here what acquaintances we have.  I think he didn’t disdain us formerly, especially sister Tanya.

BABAYEV comes in.

SCENE V

BABAYEV and LUKERYA

BABAYEV.  Whom have I the honor of addressing?

LUKERYA.  I hardly expected, Valentin Pavlich, that you would so soon forget old acquaintances.

BABAYEV.  Be seated, please. [Both sit down] I somehow do not recall.

LUKERYA.  Of course, nowadays feelings are not in vogue; now it’s all a matter of calculation; but we provincials aren’t like you in St. Petersburg; we remember our former acquaintances, and especially our benefactors.

BABAYEV.  I agree with you—­benefactors should always be remembered.

LUKERYA.  We are so indebted to your mother that words fail me to express it.  She did so much for the Zhmigulin family.

BABAYEV.  The Zhmigulins?

LUKERYA.  Especially for sister Tanya and me.

BABAYEV. [Rising] Tanya—­Tatyana Danilovna?

LUKERYA.  Do you remember, now?

BABAYEV.  So you are her sister?

LUKERYA.  Lukerya Danilovna Zhmigulin.

BABAYEV.  Pardon me, I beg of you.

LUKERYA.  I’m not in the least offended because you remember my sister more readily than you do me.  She’s so beautiful that it’s impossible to forget her.

BABAYEV.  Yes, yes, she was an exceedingly beautiful girl; we were great friends.

LUKERYA.  I’m aware of that.  Who should know it if not I?  Being the elder sister I had to care for the younger.