Chapter 42

PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA, LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA, MÁSHA, LÍZA, ANNA IVÁNOVNA, RAZLYULYÁYEV, MÍTYA, GÚSLIN, _and two_ GUESTS _(old women)._

PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. [_To the old women_] We'll sit here. [_Seats herself on the sofa, with the old women near her;_ ANNA IVÁNOVNA _and_ GÚSLIN _take chairs and talk quietly;_ MÍTYA _stands near them;_ MÁSHA, LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA, _and_ LÍZA _walk about the room with their arms round each other;_ RAZLYULYÁYEV _follows them_] We'll watch them while they play.

LÍZA. "Just imagine, mother!" I said, "he doesn't know how to talk properly, and he even uses such words that it's absolutely impolite."

RAZLYULYÁYEV. Do you mean me?

LÍZA. We aren't talking about you; it's no business of yours. [_She continues_] "But why, mother, must I love him?" [_Speaks in a whisper._

PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. Yes, my friend, I love the good old ways. Yes, our good old Russian ways. But there! my husband doesn't care for them! What can you do about it? That's his character. But I love them, I'm naturally jolly; yes, I love to give a person a bite and to get them to sing songs to me! Yes, I take after my family. Our family are all jolly, and love singing.

FIRST GUEST. When I look round, my dear Pelagéya Egórovna, there isn't the gayety that there used to be when we were young.

SECOND GUEST. No, no.

PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. In my young days I was the merriest sort of girl--always singing and dancing---indeed I was. Yes, what songs I knew! They don't sing such songs now.

FIRST GUEST. No, they don't sing them; new songs have come in now.

SECOND GUEST. Yes, yes, one remembers the old times.

PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. Yasha dear! Sing us some good old songs.

GÚSLIN _takes the guitar._

RAZLYULYÁYEV. [_To the girls_] So it's no use for me to wait; evidently I shan't get any sense out of you.

LÍZA. What do you mean by sense? I don't understand.

MÁSHA. It's ridiculous to listen to you.

RAZLYULYÁYEV. Yes, it's funny for you; but how is it for me? Really, why don't you love me?

LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA. Let's sit down.

_They sit down._

GÚSLIN. [_Sings_]

"Four huts beside the brook That swift doth run. There is a gossip In every one.

Dear gossips all four, My friends that be, Be friendly and kindly And nice to me.

When you're in the green garden, Take me with you; When you pluck flowers, Pluck me a few.

When you weave garlands, Weave me some too; When you go to the river, Take me with you.

When you throw in the garlands, Throw also my wreath; The others will float, When mine sinks beneath.

All of the sweethearts, They have come home; Mine, and mine only, He has not come."

ARÍNA. [_Enters with bottles and glasses; and a servant-girl with relishes_] Here, I've brought them!

PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. [_To the servant_] Pass it to the young ladies. [_The servant carries wine round to the girls, places the tray on the table and goes out_] Arína! Bring us some wine. Yes, pour it out, pour out the Madeira, the Madeira; it will cheer us up. That's all right! Let's have a glass; they won't condemn us--we're old folks! [_They drink_] Annushka! Come along and drink some wine. Won't you have some?

ANNA IVÁNOVNA. Well, why shouldn't I drink some! They say, don't drink when there's no one round, but when there's company, it's all right.

_Goes to_ PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA, _drinks and talks in a whisper_.

ARÍNA. Have you had a drop too much, my boys?

MÍTYA. I don't drink.

RAZLYULYÁYEV. With pleasure! [_He comes up with_ GÚSLIN _and drinks; then catches hold of_ ARÍNA] Now, then, let's start an old song. [_Sings_.

"Oh, I'll sing an old song, Of Eréma, of Fomá--"

ARÍNA. Stop, saucy; you've crumpled me all up!

RAZLYULYÁYEV. [_Sings_]

"The reins were in Kalúga; In Tarús' the hames were hid. Grooved runners had the sleigh; All by itself it slid."

_The girls laugh_.

ARÍNA. Let me go, I say! Now that's enough! [_Goes out_.

ANNA IVÁNOVNA. What are you teasing the old woman for? Come and dance with me.

RAZLYULYÁYEV. Come on, then! Play for us, Yasha!

YÁSHA _plays; they dance_.

FIRST GUEST. That's a lively little woman.

PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. Yes, very lively, very lively.

RAZLYULYÁYEV. [_Stamping his feet_] That's the way we do it. [_Stops dancing_.

EGÓRUSHKA. [_Enters_] The girls have come.

PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. Ask them in. [EGÓRUSHKA _goes out; the girls come in_. ARÍNA _brings in a dish and covers it_] Sit down and sing the dish songs; I'm so fond of them.

LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA, MÁSHA, LÍZA, _and_ ANNA IVÁNOVNA _take off their rings and put them into the dish; the girls sing_.

"Sow the wheat, my mother, and bake the cake for me. Glory! Many guests are coming, my lovers for to be. Glory!

Your guests will wear bast slippers, but mine have boots of hide. Glory! The girl of whom the song is sung, much good it doth betide. Glory!

The girl whose ring is taken out, will find it so without a doubt. Glory!"

RAZLYULYÁYEV _rolls up his sleeves, takes out a ring and gives it to_ LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA.

PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. High time, high time!

GIRLS. [_Sing_]

"In Bélgorod a sparrow small, Glory! In Bélgorod sits on a wall. Glory!

In a strange land he looks about. Glory! Her ring and fortune will come out. Glory!"

ARÍNA. [_Enters_] The mummers have come; shall I let them in?

PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. Yes, let them in; let them have a dance. And you girls can sing afterwards.