m me. As it is, I
forgive one, then another, and so the whole crowd is spoiled. [_She rings;
enter_ POTAPYCH] Call Nadezhda, and come here yourself! [POTAPYCH _goes
out_] That's what it is to be a woman. If I were a man, would they dare be
so willful?

VASILISA PEREGRINOVNA. They don't give a fig for you, benefactress, not a
fig. They aren't a little bit afraid of you!

MADAM ULANBEKOV. They're going to find out pretty quick whether I amount to
anything.

_Enter_ POTAPYCH _and_ NADYA. GAVRILOVNA _and_ LIZA _look through the
door_.

SCENE IV

_The same_, POTAPYCH _and_ NADYA

MADAM ULANBEKOV. Nadezhda! Vasilisa PEREGRINOVNA says she saw you in the
garden last night with the master. Is that so? [NADYA _is silent_] You're
silent, that means it's true. Well, now, you can thank yourself. I'm not a
conniver at loose conduct, and I won't endure it in my house. I can't turn
you out as a vagabond, that would weigh upon my conscience. I am obliged
to marry you off. [_To_ POTAPYCH] Send to town and tell NEGLIGENTOV that I
shall marry Nadya to him; and let the wedding be just as soon as possible.

[_She rises from her chair and is about to leave_].

NADYA. [_Falling at her feet_] Whatever you wish, only not marriage with
him!

MADAM ULANBEKOV. Fiddlesticks! What I have once said is sacred. And what
do you mean by this scene? Can't you see that I'm not well? To keep on
plaguing me! Potapych! She has no father; you be a father to her instead;
and impress upon her in fatherly fashion the baseness of her conduct, and
the fact that she must obey my commands.

POTAPYCH. You listen, Nadezhda, to what the mistress commands! Because when
she intrusts you to me, it means that I must show my authority over you. If
you command it, mistress, I can at once, in your presence, give her some
moral instruction with my own hand! Here, if you dare to say one tiny word
to the contrary, I'll drag you off by the hair, no matter what any one
says.

[_He raises his hand threateningly._]

NADYA. Oh!... [_She crouches._]

MADAM ULANBEKOV. Don't strike her! What disgusting scenes!

POTAPYCH. But, mistress! You can't get results by talking! Besides, if I'm
her father, that's the regular thing! That's the law, and according to
that, since she is rebelling against you now, I ought to give you that
satisfaction.

NADYA. [_Weeping_] Mistress, don't ruin me!

MADAM ULANBEKOV. Oh, my God! You don't spare me at all. Tears, squabblings!
Sen