Anísya. Ah, if you knew all! The thing is that I've made one little mistake.
Neighbor. Well, if I were you, I'd go straight and have the law of him. The money's yours; how dare he squander it? There's no such rights.
Anísya. They don't pay heed to that nowadays.
Neighbor. Ah, my dear, now I come to look at you, you've got that weak. Anísya. Yes, quite weak, dear, quite weak. He's got me into a regular fix. I don't myself know anything. Oh, my poor head!
Neighbor (listening). There's some one coming, I think.
[The door opens and AKÍM enters.
Akím (crosses himself, knocks the snow off his feet, and takes off his coat). Peace be to this house! How do you do? Are you well, daughter?
Anísya. How d'you do, father? Do you come straight from home?
Akím. I've been a-thinking I'll go and see what's name, go to see my son, I mean,—my son. I didn't start early—had my dinner, I mean; I went, and it's so what d'you call it—so snowy, hard walking, and so there I'm what d'you call it—late, I mean. And my son—is he at home? At home? My son, I mean.
Anísya. No; he's gone to the town.