e surprised. I was invited to tea, but I didn't stay. "Do you
think I want tea," I said, "when I have a young wife at home who's waiting
for me!" But where is she?

LUKERYA. I don't know. Somewhere around. Isn't she in the garden?

KRASNOV. Send her in right away, I want to give her a present for her
kindness to-day.

LUKERYA. Right away, right away. [_Goes out_]

KRASNOV. [_Paces up and dawn in silence; then speaks to himself_]
Fifty-seven rubles, six and three, nine to Peter Ananyev. [_Pause_] Has she
disappeared? [_Paces up and down in silence_] Afonya, do you know where my
wife went?

AFONYA. Don't know. Oh, I feel sick.

KRASNOV. What's she dallying around for? [_Goes to the door_] Tatyana
Danilovna! Lukerya Danilovna! They don't even answer. What does that mean
now? Afanasy, where's my wife?

AFONYA. Are you lonesome without her? She'll come, don't be afraid. No
matter where she's strolling, she'll come home.

KRASNOV. [_At the door_] Tatyana Danilovna!

ULYANA _comes in_.

SCENE III

_The same and_ ULYANA

KRASNOV. Who's that? Is that you, Ulyana?

ULYANA. Yes, brother.

KRASNOV. What do you want?

ULYANA. Just to call on you, brother, as a relative should.

KRASNOV. I'm in no great need of your calls.

ULYANA. My feelings, brother, are different from yours; I can't help
remembering my kindred. Where's your bride?

KRASNOV. She seems to have gotten lost somewhere here. I keep calling her,
but can't raise her.

ULYANA. Maybe she's far away from here, so she can't hear your call

KRASNOV. What do you mean by "far"? I tell you she's at home.

ULYANA. Who said that? Wasn't it her sister, Lukerya Danilovna?

KRASNOV. Yes, maybe it was she.

ULYANA. And you believed her. Oh, you're simple, simple!

KRASNOV. Go away, sister! Keep out of trouble!

ULYANA. Come to your senses; what are you shouting for? I saw with my own
eyes how she went to the gentleman.

KRASNOV. So that's the kind of family I have! My luck sticks in their
throats. You're a barbarian, you jealous woman. To kill you would be small
penalty for your cursed tongue! [_Raises his arm to strike her_.

AFONYA. [_Getting up from the couch_] Quieter, you; quieter! What are you
making a row for?

KRASNOV. I'll hang you both on the same poplar!

AFONYA. [_Shielding his sister_] Don't touch her, don't lay a finger on
her! She's telling the truth, the absolute truth.

KRASNOV. You lie, you're jealous, both of you! It isn'