SCENE V

MADAME KABANOVA, KABANOV, KATERINA and VARVARA.

MME. KABANOVA. If you care to listen to your mother, you'll do as I have told you, directly you get there.

KABANOV. How could I possibly disobey you, mother!

MME. KABANOVA. Young folks show little respect to their elders, nowadays.

VARVARA (to herself). Not respect you, my dear? That's likely!

KABANOV. I think, mamma, I never depart a hairsbreadth from your will.

MME. KABANOVA. I might believe you, my son, if I hadn't seen with my own eyes and heard with my own ears how little reverence parents receive nowadays from children! They might at least remember all the sufferings a mother has to put up with for her children.

KABANOV. Mamma, I....

MME. KABANOVA. If the mother that bore you does at times say a word that wounds your pride surely you might put up with it! Hey, what do you think?