SCENE IV
BABÁYEV, KRASNÓV, TATYÁNA, and LUKÉRYA
BABÁYEV. So this is where you live! Is this your own little house?
TATYÁNA. Our own. This is my husband.
BABÁYEV. I'm delighted. I've known your wife a long while.
KRASNÓV. That's your affair.
BABÁYEV. You're in business?
KRASNÓV. That's my affair.
TATYÁNA. Won't you be seated? [BABÁYEV and KRASNÓV take seats]
Shouldn't you like some tea?
BABÁYEV. No, thank you; I don't care for tea now.
LUKÉRYA. Ah, Tánya, we've forgotten that now in St. Petersburg they have different tastes. [To BABÁYEV] We can have coffee immediately.
BABÁYEV. No, please do not trouble yourself; I've already had some. Let us rather sit and talk. Are you happy here? Have you any amusements here?
TATYÁNA. No. What sort of amusements can one have here?
BABÁYEV. How do you spend your time? Is it possible you are always at home?
TATYÁNA. Mostly.
KRASNÓV. And that is proper among such as us. Our Russian way is: husband and dog in the yard, and wife and cat in the house.
LUKÉRYA. [In a low voice to KRASNÓV] Can't you speak more politely?
KRASNÓV. I know my business.
BABÁYEV. So you're a housekeeper. I should think it must have been hard for you to get used to your new duties.
TATYÁNA. [Glancing at her husband] Yes; of course I can't say—of course—at first——
BABÁYEV. [To LUKÉRYA] I'm asking, but I don't really know myself what these duties consist of.
LUKÉRYA. But considering your noble birth, that's beneath your knowledge.
KRASNÓV. There's nothing vulgar about it.
BABÁYEV. Really, what is there vulgar in it?
LUKÉRYA. The words are low and even quite coarse, and they aren't usually spoken before people of good breeding.
BABÁYEV. Well, imagine that I'm a man of no breeding. What are the words, tell me?
LUKÉRYA. You're embarrassing Tánya and me. But if you're interested to hear those words, all right! The kitchen and other common things belong to the household: the frying-pan, the handle, the oven fork. Isn't that low?
KRASNÓV. Whether the oven fork is high or low, if you put the soup in the stove you've got to get it out.
TATYÁNA. You might spare your wife before guests.
KRASNÓV. I haven't insulted you a hair's breadth either before guests or without guests. When you're asked what sort of a housekeeper you are for your husband, right before him, then I should think you'd answer, that you're a good housekeeper, and aren't ashamed of your position, because among such as us that is the first duty.
LUKÉRYA. [In a low voice to KRASNÓV] You're disturbing our conversation with our guest.
BABÁYEV. [In a low voice to TATYÁNA] Is he always like this?
TATYÁNA. [In a low voice] I don't know what's the matter with him.
BABÁYEV. [In a low voice] You see for yourself that I've no business here. You'd better come to me to-day, and I'll go home now. [Aloud] Well, good-by. I hope this isn't the last time we meet.
LUKÉRYA. Certainly, certainly.
TATYÁNA. We are most grateful for your visit!
KRASNÓV. [Bowing] Good-by to you! Are you going away from here soon?
BABÁYEV. I don't know. Whenever my affairs are settled.
KRASNÓV. But when, do you think?
BABÁYEV. They tell me, at court, the day after to-morrow.
KRASNÓV. So, when that's over you're going directly?
BABÁYEV. I think so. What is there to do here?
KRASNÓV. Yes, there's nothing to do here. My regards to you! [BABÁYEV, TATYÁNA, and LUKÉRYA go out] An unbidden guest is worse than a Tatar. What do we want with him? What use is he to us? I won't have his help; we aren't beggars. Well, be off with you! Go to St. Petersburg, and good luck to you.
Enter TATYÁNA and LUKÉRYA.