TATYANA.  That’s my business, not yours.

LUKERYA brings in the samovar.

LUKERYA. [Placing the samovar on the table] Lev Rodionych is coming with some people.

TATYANA.  I guess some of his relatives; what a horrid nuisance!

AFONYA.  Nuisance!  Why did you ever intrude into our family?

Enter KRASNOV, KURITSYN, ULYANA.

SCENE II

KRASNOV, TATYANA, LUKERYA, AFONYA, KURITSYN, and ULYANA.

KRASNOV. [To his wife] How are you? [Kisses her.

TATYANA.  How affectionate!

KRASNOV.  Never mind.  We have a perfect right to!  Let me treat you.  We’ve just received fresh grapes. [Gives her a bunch] Here I have brought you some company.  The samovar is all ready—­that’s good.

ULYANA.  How do you do, sister?  You are so proud you never call on us!  But we’re common folks; so we picked ourselves up and came, uninvited.

KURITSYN.  How do you do, sister?  Why are you so contemptuous of your relatives?  You might run over once in a while for tea; your feet are able to carry you!

KRASNOV.  How has she time to go visiting?  She has so much to do at home.  She’s just beginning to get used to the household!

ULYANA.  Yes, sister, you must get used to the household.  That’s our woman’s duty.  You didn’t marry a millionaire, so you needn’t put on airs.

KURITSYN.  Yes, you’d better learn, and well.

ULYANA. [Approaching AFONYA] Ah, Afonya, are you still sick?  You ought to take something!

KURITSYN. [Also approaching AFONYA] You eat more—­then you’ll get well.  If you don’t want to, then force yourself to eat; that’s what I tell you! [Speaks in a low voice to AFONYA.

TATYANA. [To her husband] What have you done!  What sort of company have you brought?

LUKERYA.  To be frank, you’ve spoiled everything.  How embarrassing, how awfully embarrassing!

KRASNOV.  What, embarrassing?  Is some lord coming?  What’s the odds!  Nothing to get excited over!  Let him see our relatives.

LUKERYA.  Much he’s interested!

KRASNOV.  I can’t chase my sister away for him.  So there’s nothing more to be said about it.  I haven’t set eyes on him yet, I don’t know what he’s like; these, at any rate, are our own.  And, besides, they’ll not stay long. [To his wife] Be seated; pour the tea!  Brother, sister, have a cup of tea.

All excepting AFONYA seat themselves at the table.

KURITSYN.  Brother, this is a holiday occasion, so it is customary before tea to—­just a little.  Don’t you drink, yourself?

KRASNOV.  From the day I married Tatyana Danilovna I stopped all that.  Tatyana Danilovna, treat brother and sister with some vodka.

TATYANA. [Takes out of the cupboard and places on the table decanter, glasses, and refreshments] Have some, sister! [ULYANA drinks] Have some, brother!