Peter. There'll be no one to manage things! She's not steady. Has her head full of folly—why, I know all about it, I know. And my girl is silly and young. I've got the homestead together, and there's no one to attend to things. One can't help feeling it.
[Whimpers.
Matryóna. Why, if it's money, or something, you can leave orders?
Peter (to Anísya inside the house). Has Nan gone?
Matryóna (aside). There now, he's remembered!
Anísya (from inside). She went then and there. Come inside, won't you? I'll help you in.
Peter. Let me sit here a bit for the last time. The air's so stuffy inside. Oh, how bad I feel! Oh, my heart's burning.... Oh, if death would only come!
Matryóna. If God don't take a soul, the soul can't go out. Death and life are in God's will. Peter Ignátitch. You can't be sure of death either. Maybe you'll recover yet. There was a man in our village just like that, at the very point of death....
Peter. No, I feel I shall die to-day, I feel it.
[Leans back and shuts his eyes.