Yaìch. You have not quite understood me, I think; I said my name is Yaìchnitza.
Zhev. (bows). Oh! I beg your pardon; I am a little hard of hearing. I ... really ... understood you to say ... that you had lunched on an omelette.
Yaìch. Yes; it’s very unfortunate. I thought of asking the General to allow me to change my name to Yaìchnitzyn; but my friends dissuaded me; they said it would sound like Sobachi Syn.[[7]]
Zhev. Yes, there are such cases. All our squadron, both officers and crew, had the most extraordinary names: Pomòykin,[[8]] Yarỳzhkin,[[9]] Lieutenant Pereprèyev;[[10]] and there was one midshipman—a very good midshipman too—whose name was just Dỳrka;[[11]] it was so odd; the captain would call, “Come here, Dỳrka;” and we all of us used to tease him, and call him stop-gap, and bung-hole, and all sorts of things. (Door-bell rings, Fèkla runs across stage.)
Yaìch. Ah! Good-morning, little mother!
Zhev. Good-morning! How are you, my dear?
Anoùch. Glad to see you, little mother, Fèkla Ivànovna.
Fèkla (hurriedly). Thank you, thank you; same to you. (Exit into hall; opens door. Voices without: “At home?” “At home.” Then several half-inaudible words; Fèkla’s voice answers angrily: “Just you take care!” Enter Kochkaryòv, Podkolyòssin, and Fèkla.)
Koch. (to Podkolyòssin). Now just keep up your courage—that’s all that’s wanted. (Glances round, and salutes the company with a surprised expression.) (Aside.) Oho! What a lot of people! What’s the meaning of this? They can’t all be suitors. (Nudges Fèkla, and speaks to her softly.) Where did all these crows come from, eh?
Fèkla (softly). There are no crows here; they are all honest people.