KRASNOV.  I don’t understand the reason for this argument!  The whole affair isn’t worth discussing.  We probably won’t ever see him again, and we have no need of him; he went with what he came.  We have to live our life together; it isn’t worth our having trouble over him.

TATYANA.  Ah, Lusha, what a disgrace!  I wonder what he’ll think of us now?

LUKERYA.  Yes.  He’ll soon go back to St. Petersburg; a fine opinion of us he’ll take away with him!

KRASNOV.  I tell you again, that you should dismiss him and his opinions from your mind.  The whole affair isn’t worth a kopek.  I think that whether he’s alive or no, it’s all the same to us.

TATYANA.  It may be all the same for you, but not so for us.  Sister and I have promised to visit him and we want to go to-day.

KRASNOV.  There’s no need.

TATYANA.  How, no need?  I tell you that I want to see him.

KRASNOV.  You want to, but I’m not anxious.  Ought you to consider my wishes or not?

TATYANA.  You seem to have assumed authority all of a sudden.  You certainly don’t imagine that we’ll obey you.—­No, indeed, we won’t.

KRASNOV. [Striking the table] What do you mean by “no, indeed”?  No, if I tell you something, then that has to go.  I’m talking sense and what’s good for you, and that’s why I give you strict orders. [Again strikes the table.

TATYANA. [Crying] What tyranny!  What torture!

LUKERYA. [With a laugh] Oh, what a fearful, oh, what a terrible man, ha, ha, ha!

KRASNOV.  What are you cackling about?  I’ll fire you out so fast that your skirts will squeak on the gate.

TATYANA.  Well, do what you like, even kill us, but we’ll go.  We don’t want to show him we’re boors.  We surely have to thank him for remembering us, and wish him a pleasant journey.

KRASNOV.  Tatyana Danilovna, please understand what you are told.

TATYANA.  I hope you aren’t going to fight?  That’ll be just like you.  That’s what’s to be expected.

KRASNOV.  You’re mistaken.  You’ll never see me do that.  I love you so much that this time I’ll even respect your caprices.  Go along, but never set your foot there again.  Only one more thing, Tatyana Danilovna:  you see this clock! [Points to the wall clock] Look at the clock when you leave, and be back in half an hour! [Pointing to the floor] On this very spot.  Understand?

TATYANA.  Come, Lusha, let’s dress. [Both go out.

KRASNOV.  I think everything will be all right now.  They were a little spoiled; in that case sternness will do no harm.  If I hold on she’ll come to love me.  Then when the gentleman is gone, I can humor her again; then our misunderstanding will be forgotten.  What wouldn’t I give for the half-hour they’re with the gentleman?  But what’s to be done?  I can’t cut her off sharp—­that’d entirely turn her away from me.  Whatever I try to think of, horrid