Sasha. St. Petersburg? And what shall I do there when I have spent the ten roubles?
Ast. [shrugging his shoulders]. How do I know? Live there, die there, only stay away from here.
Fomá. What right have you to send him away? Why do you suppose that she will not be glad to see him? Let her see her saint bedraggled, and love him still—that is what true love means. You have regaled her with lies all these years; but now it is no longer possible. [A knocking at the door.] She is at the door.
Ast. [to Sasha]. Come with me. [To Fomá.] He must go out by the other way.
Fomá [stopping them]. No, I forbid it. It is the hand of God that has led him here. Go and unlock the door. [Astéryi shrugs his shoulders, and goes to unlock the door.] [To Sasha, hiding him.] Stand here a moment till I have prepared your mother.
[Enter Praskóvya and Varvára, carrying a box.]
Pras. Why is the door locked? Were you afraid without old Praskóvya to protect you? Here is the money. Now let me count it. Have you two been quarreling? There are fifty roubles in this bag, all in little pieces of silver; it took me two years.
Fomá. How you must have denied yourself, Praskóvya, and all to build a hut in a churchyard!
Pras. On what better thing could money be spent?
Fomá. You are so much in love with your tomb-house, I believe that you would be sorry if it turned out that your son was not dead, but alive.