AKÍM. Yes, she's living all right. The little woman is what d'ye call it, clever and steady; she's living, and what d'ye call it, doing her best. She's all right; the little woman's of the right sort I mean; painstaking and what d'ye call it, submissive; the little woman's all right I mean, all right, you know.
ANÍSYA. And is there no talk in your village that a relative of Marína's husband thinks of marrying our Akoulína? Have you heard nothing of it?
AKÍM. Ah; that's Mirónof. Yes, the women did chatter something. But I didn't pay heed, you know. It don't interest me I mean, I don't know anything. Yes, the old women did say something, but I've a bad memory, bad memory, I mean. But the Mirónofs are what d'ye call it, they're all right, I mean they're all right.
ANÍSYA. I'm that impatient to get her settled.
AKÍM. And why?
NAN [listens] They've come!
ANÍSYA. Well, don't you go bothering them. [Goes on washing the spoons without turning her head].
NIKÍTA [enters] Anísya! Wife! who has come? [Anísya looks up and turns away in silence].
NIKÍTA [severely] Who has come? Have you forgotten?
ANÍSYA. Now don't humbug. Come in!