GORDÉY KÁRPYCH. Wife, you know me! And you, Afrikán Savvich, don't be uneasy: with me saying is doing!
KÓRSHUNOV. You have promised—then keep your word. [Rises, goes to the girls, and speaks to them in a low voice.
LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA. [Goes to her father] Father, I will never take a step against your will. But have pity on me, poor girl that I am! Don't ruin my young life!
GORDÉY KÁRPYCH. You're a fool, and don't understand your own happiness! You'll live in Moscow like a lady; you'll ride in a coach. In the first place, you'll live in the city—and not in a wilderness like this! In the second place, these are my orders!
LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA. I dare not disobey your command. Father! [Bows down to his feet] Don't make me unhappy for my whole life! Relent, father! Make me do whatever you like, only don't compel me to marry a man I don't love!
GORDÉY KÁRPYCH. I never take back my word. [Rises.
LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA. As you wish, father! [Bows and goes to her mother.
KÓRSHUNOV. There, that business is over! Now, then, girls—a marriage song!
GIRLS. [Sing] "The flowers in the garden will wither all about me,
The blue flower in the meadow will be faded and forlorn;
And so will my darling of the red cheeks without me;
So rise up early, mother, in the morn.
You must water all the flowers
In the dawn and evening hours
With water very often and with bitter tears in showers."
LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA. Not that, not that! Sing another!