LÍPOCHKA. [In a voice still rather trembly] Oh, dear, I wish she'd hurry up!
SCENE III
The same and FOMÍNISHNA
FOMÍNISHNA. Just guess, my dear Agraféna Kondrátyevna, who's come to call on us!
AGRAFÉNA KONDRÁTYEVNA. I can't say. Do you think I'm a witch at guessing,
Fomínishna?
LÍPOCHKA. Why don't you ask me? Am I stupider than you or mamma?
FOMÍNISHNA. The fact is, I don't know how to tell you. You're pretty strong on talk; but when it comes to action you aren't there! I asked you, and asked you, to give me just a handkerchief—nothing expensive: two heaps of stuff are lying around on your closet floor now without any care; but it didn't do any good; it's always give it to strangers, give it to strangers!
AGRAFÉNA KONDRÁTYEVNA. There, now, Fomínishna, I'll never make this out till doomsday.
LÍPOCHKA. Let her go; she had a drink of beer after breakfast, and so she's getting fuzzy in her head.
FOMÍNISHNA. That's all right; what are you laughing at? How's it coming out, Agraféna Kondrátyevna? Sometimes the beginning is worse than the end.