‘What?’
‘It’s not for you, sir, to be friends with us, your honour. So, please, do us the favour ...’
Praskovia Ivanovna went on bowing.
‘What ever for?’ muttered the astounded Pyetushkov.
‘Oh, nothing, sir. For mercy’s sake ...’
‘No, Praskovia Ivanovna, you must explain this! ...’
‘Vassilissa asks you. She says, “I thank you, thank you very much, and from my heart; only for the future, your honour, give us up.”’
Praskovia Ivanovna bowed down almost to Pyetushkov’s feet.
‘Vassilissa, you say, begs me not to come?’
‘Just so, your honour. When your honour came in to-day, and said what you did, that you didn’t wish, you said, to visit us any more, I felt relieved, sir, that I did; thinks I, Well, thank God, how nicely it’s all come about! But for that, I should have had hard work to bring my tongue to say it.... Be so good, sir.’