SCENE IV. ON GALLERY.

(KARP KÀRPYCH. OULÌTA _sits down at her place and pours out tea_. SERAFÌMA, _in hat and cloak, with parasol and green gloves_. MATRYÒNA _places on table a figured china cup which she has brought from the room, and stands a little way off_.)

_Serafima._ Good evening, papa. (_Goes up to him. They kiss._)

_Karp._ Good evening. Sit down, my girl.

_Serafima_ (_sits down_). And where’s my brother, Onesìme?

_Karp._ Where’s Onesìme? Off on the spree. He’s been playing the devil for five days.

_Serafima._ And Anna Vlàsyevna?

_Karp._ Well, you see, whatever we do, we can’t make Onesìme leave off drinking. So your mother has sent your sister round to the prisons to give out white bread; so perhaps God will forgive us.

_Oulìta._ Yes, yes; I sent her to take round white rolls to the prisoners.... You know they’ve most of them got into trouble for nothing....

_Karp._ Oho! For nothing? They’re to rob and murder to their heart’s content, and not get locked up for it!

_Oulìta._ Well, but the robbers and murderers are in the great prison; what do people get put into the jail for?

_Karp._ For debt.

_Oulìta._ It’s all very well to talk about debt; they say Kòn Kònych is in jail for interest.

_Karp._ For what—interest?

_Oulìta._ Yes, indeed; for interest. And it’s not right! What a man borrows, he should give back; but interest is a sin.

_Karp._ Going to begin your chattering again, now! (OULÌTA _pours out tea_; MATRYÒNA _carries cup on tray to_ SERAFÌMA; _she takes it with her gloves on_.)

_Oulìta._ Serafimoushka, you’d better take off your hat and cloak; and you might as well unlace your dress at the back; there are no strangers here. Matryòna will do it for you.

_Serafima._ Oh! mamma, how _can_ you? I don’t feel the heat. I just came to you for a minute to ask your advice.

_Karp_ (_blowing on his saucer_). What about?

_Serafima._ I want to marry.

_Oulìta_ (_clasping her hands_). Good gracious!

_Karp._ Well, why not? Why shouldn’t she? You might do worse....

_Oulìta_ (_shaking her head, and folding both hands on her breast_). My beauty!

_Karp._ Who is the man? I should like to hear that.

_Serafima._ He’s quite a young man, papa; he serves in the Law Court; and, I ought to tell you, he’s not well off. I wouldn’t marry a poor man, only that I am so very much in love with him. (_Raises eyes to heaven; sighs, and meditates._)

_Oulìta_ (_clasping her hands_). Dear heart!

_Karp._ And who is he?

_Serafima._ His name is Prèzhnev. He’s a noble, of good family; and may get a good situation. I’ve thought it over; you see, I have my own fortune. If I am careful with the money, there will be enough for me and a husband. I am willing to deny myself many things rather than live without him. (_Raises eyes to heaven, and sighs._)

_Karp._ Perhaps there’s something remarkable about him?

_Serafima._ I haven’t heard of anything at all.

_Karp._ Well, Serafima, my girl, remember one thing: you’re a cut-off twig; I shan’t give you any more money; so mind you don’t run through what you’ve got.

_Oulìta._ The other one was old; but you say this one’s young, so very likely you may have children; you must keep the money for them.

_Serafima._ With my character, I can’t squander my money. (_Gives cup to_ MATRYÒNA.)

_Karp._ H’m!——You say he’s young; and you’re a widow, not a girl; I doubt you’ll feel a bit ashamed before your husband; he’ll just make a fool of you and get hold of your money.

_Serafima_ (_takes cup from_ MATRYÒNA). Do you think that men love only for money? (_Raises eyes to heaven, and sighs._)

_Karp._ Why, what did you suppose? Everybody knows that.

_Serafima_ (_suddenly waking out of meditation_). I won’t give him any money.

_Karp._ That’s right; that’s capital; you do as I told you.

_Serafima._ Of course I will, papa. You needn’t think I’m going to be silly.

_Karp._ We’re going to have a wedding too, soon. Matryòna was found in the garden with one of the shopmen; so I’m going to marry them. (MATRYÒNA _hides her face in her sleeve_.) I shall give him a thousand roubles, and have the wedding at my cost.

_Oulìta._ It’s all very well for you to get up weddings; you just want a chance to have a drunken spree.

_Karp._ Well, what now?

_Oulìta._ Nothing.

_Karp_ (_sternly_). No; you say what you mean.

_Oulìta._ Nothing; really nothing.

_Karp_ (_very sternly_). No; I will have you speak out; I want to hear.

_Oulìta._ There’s no use speaking when you never listen.

_Karp._ What should I listen for? It’s not worth while when _you_ talk. Ah-h-h-, Oulìta Nikìtishna! (_Threatens with his finger._) You were told to hold your tongue! I want the lass to feel what I’m doing for her; and here you come in with your chattering!... (MATRYÒNA _hides her face with the other sleeve_.) She’s only my second cousin twice removed, and yet I give her a dowry. I’m the benefactor of all my kindred. There’s another little one; I shall take her in Matryòna’s place, and bring her up, and settle her in life. (_Silence._)

_Oulìta._ Are you quite sure he will love you, my dear?

_Serafima._ Why not, mamma? There’s nothing objectionable in my character. The only thing is ... when I was at boarding-school they used to say that I had no comprehension of music whatsoever, and that I was dreamy, and given to meditating about nothing; and then, I’m very fond of sweets—perhaps he won’t notice that though. There is one thing more: I’m very bad at counting silver money——

_Karp._ Oh, that’s nothing! You’ll soon get into it.

_Serafima._ Perhaps he won’t like my being economical; but then, how could I manage otherwise? I only try to live within my income, and not run into my capital. What should I be without capital? I should have no value at all!

_Karp._ Of course not!

_Serafima._ And I know how to add up interest—on paper; I was taught that at boarding-school. I can’t do it without paper, though. (_Meditates._)

_Oulìta._ What are you thinking about, child?... Why, what a silly I am! It’s not much wonder that you think, poor girl! Such a change in your life! And there’s no telling beforehand how it’ll turn out.

_Serafima._ No, mamma, it’s not that. I’ve just been buying some ribbon—seven ells at eighty kopecks, paper money; and I was just thinking how much that would be in silver money, and how much change I ought to have from three roubles. (_Takes out purse and looks into it._)

_Karp._ Rouble sixty kopecks—one rouble forty change.

_Serafima._ Are you sure, papa?

_Karp._ Why, bless the girl, what else could it be?

_Serafima_ (_puts back purse_). All right.

_Oulìta._ Are you sure he doesn’t drink?

_Karp._ There you are again! Everybody drinks nowadays.

_Oulìta._ I mean, you’d better ask what he’s like when he’s drunk.

_Karp._ Ah! that’s another matter!

_Oulìta._ Because, you know, some people are so quiet in drink that it really doesn’t matter. It’s just as if they weren’t drunk.

_Serafima._ All right, mamma; I’ll ask. I must go now.

_Oulìta._ Oh, no! You mus’n’t, indeed; stop a bit. You’re so fond of sweet things.... We’ve got some splendid fruit. Run and fetch it, Matryòna; it’s on my bedroom window-sill. (MATRYÒNA _goes out, comes back with fruit, offers it to_ SERAFÌMA, _and then places it on table_.) Take some, dear child; take some. Won’t you have some liqueur?

_Serafima._ Really, mamma!

_Oulìta._ Have a glass of beer, darling.

_Serafima._ You know I never drink it.

_Oulìta._ Well then, mead?

_Serafima._ I can’t, really.

_Oulìta._ Jam, then?

_Serafima._ I’ll have some jam.

_Oulìta_ (_taking keys out of pocket_). Go to the store-room, Matryòna, and bring me two kinds.

_Serafima._ And tell my coachman to bring the carriage round.

(MATRYÒNA _crosses stage, and exit_.)

_Oulìta._ Have some more fruit, Serafimoushka. (SERAFÌMA _takes some_.) Won’t you have any, Karp Kàrpych?

_Karp._ What next? As if I were going to eat all sorts of rubbish now! Put some aside for me, and have the rest cleared away. I’ll eat an orange with my brandy. (OULÌTA _eats fruit_. _Silence._)