BABAYEV.  Ask them in!  You and I, dear landlady, are old friends. [Pats her on the shoulder.

PROKOFYEVNA.  Indeed we are, sir, friends! [Goes out.

KARP. [With an impatient wave of his hand] Sins! [Goes out.

TATYANA and LUKERYA come in.

SCENE III

BABAYEV, TATYANA, LUKERYA

LUKERYA.  How do you do, again!  Were you looking for us?

BABAYEV.  To be frank, I didn’t expect you so soon.  Be seated; why are you standing? [They all sit down.

LUKERYA.  We fairly ran over here.  We had such a time getting away.

TATYANA.  That’s enough, Lusha; stop!

LUKERYA.  There’s no use concealing matters!  You can’t do it.  Valentin Pavlich has seen our local gentry to-day, himself.  You should see what a rumpus we had after you left!

TATYANA.  Ah, Lusha, those things happen in every family; there’s no need telling every one!  It’s no one’s affair how we live.

LUKERYA.  Now you understand, Valentin Pavlich, what a peasant is when he assumes importance?

TATYANA.  It’s well for you to talk, since you aren’t concerned.  You might spare me!  He’s my husband, and I have to live with him till the brink of the grave.

BABAYEV.  You weren’t careful in your marriage, Tatyana Danilovna; you weren’t careful.

TATYANA.  How queer you are!  What are you reproaching me for?  Where were you when we had nothing to eat?  But now there is no going back.  All that remains for me to do is to cry all the rest of my life. [Cries.

BABAYEV.  Why are you crying now?

TATYANA.  What have I to rejoice over?  You?  I might be happy if I had freedom.  Understand this:  on your account I quarrelled with my husband; you’ll be going away to-day or to-morrow, while I have to remain with him.  You only made matters worse by coming; until you came he didn’t seem so bad, and suddenly he has changed entirely.  Before he saw you he fulfilled my every wish, he licked my hands like a dog; but now he has begun to look askance at me and to scold.  How can I endure torment all my life with the man I loathe! [Cries.

BABAYEV.  Now, please stop!  Why do you grieve! [To LUKERYA] Listen, Lukerya Danilovna!  You go to the landlady, I can calm her better alone.

LUKERYA.  All right, but don’t be too sly! [Goes out.

SCENE IV

BABAYEV and TATYANA

BABAYEV. [Draws nearer and puts one arm around TATYANA] Darling, Tanechka, now stop!  Why do you weep so!  Let’s think, together, how we can help your grief.

TATYANA.  There’s no use thinking!  There’s no way.

BABAYEV.  Is that so?  But what if I take you off to the village?

TATYANA.  Which one?  Where?