PRINCE ABRÉZKOV. Of course you desire his happiness. But it is not easy for you and me, with our grey hairs, to understand the young; and it is particularly difficult for a mother grown accustomed to her own idea of how her son is to be happy. Women are all like that.
ANNA DMÍTRIEVNA. Yes, yes indeed! You are all against me! You may do it, of course. Vous êtes majeur.[18] … But you will kill me!
VICTOR. You are not yourself. This is worse than cruelty!
PRINCE ABRÉZKOV [to Victor] Be quiet, Victor. Your mother's words are always worse than her deeds.
ANNA DMÍTRIEVNA. I shall tell her how I think and feel, but I will do it without offending her.
PRINCE ABRÉZKOV. Of that I am sure.
Enter footman.
PRINCE ABRÉZKOV. Here she is.
VICTOR. I'll go.
FOOTMAN. Elisabeth Andréyevna Protásova.