ANiSYA. Now then, it"s all right, lie down!
NIKiTA. No, I"ll first drink a samovar with my parent. Go and light the samovar. Akoulina, I say, come here!
[Enter AKOULiNA, smartly dressed and carrying their purchases.
AKOULiNA. Why have you thrown everything about? Where"s the yarn?
NIKiTA. The yarn? The yarn"s there. Hullo, Mitritch, where are you?
Asleep? Asleep? Go and put the horse up.
AKiM (not seeing AKOULiNA but looking at his son). Dear me, what is he doing? The old man"s what d"ye call it, quite done up, I mean,--been thrashing,--and look at him, what d"ye call it, putting on airs! Put up the horse! Faugh, what filth!
MiTRITCH (climbs down from the oven, and puts on felt boots). Oh, merciful Lord! Is the horse in the yard? Done it to death, I dare say.
Just see how he"s been swilling, the deuce take him. Up to his very throat. Oh Lord, Holy Nicholas!
[Puts on sheepskin and exit.
NIKiTA (sits down). You must forgive me, father. It"s true I"ve had a drop; well, what of that? Even a hen will drink. Ain"t it true? So you must forgive me. Never mind Mitritch, he doesn"t mind, he"ll put it up.
ANiSYA. Shall I really light the samovar?
NIKiTA. Light it! My parent has come. I wish to talk to him, and shall drink tea with him. (To AKOULiNA.) Have you brought all the parcels?
AKOULiNA. The parcels? I"ve brought mine, the rest"s in the sledge.
Hi, take this, this isn"t mine!
[Throws a parcel on the table and puts the others into her box.
NAN watches her while she puts them away. AKiM does not look at his son, but puts his leg-bands and bast-shoes on the oven.
ANiSYA (going out with the samovar). Her box is full as it is, and still he"s bought more!
NIKiTA (pretending to be sober). You must not be cross with me, father. You think I"m drunk? I am all there, that"s flat! As they say, "Drink, but keep your wits about you." I can talk with you at once, father. I can attend to any business. You told me about the money; your horse is worn-out,--I remember! That can all be managed. That"s all in our hands. If it was an enormous sum that"s wanted, then we might wait; but as it is I can do everything. That"s the case.
AKiM (goes on fidgeting with the leg-bands). Eh, lad, "It"s ill sledging when the thaw has set in."
NIKiTA. What do you mean by that? "And it"s ill talking with one who is drunk?" But don"t you worry, let"s have some tea. And I can do anything; that"s flat! I can put everything to rights.
AKiM (shakes his head). Eh, eh, eh!
NIKiTA. The money, here it is. (Puts his hand in his pocket, pulls out pocket-book, handles the notes in it and takes out a ten-rouble note.) Take this to get a horse; I can"t forget my parent. I shan"t forsake him, that"s flat. Because he"s my parent! Here you are, take it! Really now, I don"t grudge it. (Comes up and pushes the note towards AKiM, who won"t take it. NIKiTA catches hold of his father"s hand.) Take it, I tell you. I don"t grudge it.
AKiM. I can"t what d"you call it, I mean, can"t take it! And can"t what d"ye call it, talk to you, because you"re not yourself, I mean.
NIKiTA. I"ll not let you go! Take it!
[Puts the money into AKiM"S hand.
ANiSYA (enters, and stops). You"d better take it, he"ll give you no peace!
AKiM (takes it, and shakes his head). Oh! that liquor. Not like a man, I mean!
NIKiTA. That"s better! If you repay it you"ll repay it, if not I"ll make no bother. That"s what I am! (Sees AKOULiNA.) Akoulina, show your presents.
AKOULiNA. What?
NIKiTA. Show your presents.
AKOULiNA. The presents, what"s the use of showing "em? I"ve put "em away.
NIKiTA. Get them, I tell you. Nan will like to see "em. Undo the shawl. Give it here.
AKiM. Oh, oh! It"s sickening!
[Climbs on the oven.
AKOULiNA (gets out the parcels and puts them on the table). Well, there you are,--what"s the good of looking at "em?
NAN. Oh how lovely! It"s as good as Stepanida"s.
AKOULiNA. Stepanida"s? What"s Stepanida"s compared to this?
(Brightening up and undoing the parcels.) Just look here,--see the quality! It"s a French one.
NAN. The print is fine! Mary has a dress like it, only lighter on a blue ground. This is pretty.
NIKiTA. Ah, that"s it!
[ANiSYA pa.s.ses angrily into the closet, returns with a tablecloth and the chimney of the Samovar, and goes up to the table.
ANiSYA. Drat you, littering the table!
NIKiTA. You look here!
ANiSYA. What am I to look at? Have I never seen anything? Put it away!
[Sweeps the shawl on to the floor with her arm.
AKOULiNA. What are you pitching things down for? You pitch your own things about!
[Picks up the shawl.
NIKiTA. Anisya! Look here!
ANiSYA. Why am I to look?
NIKiTA. You think I have forgotten you? Look here! (Shows her a parcel and sits down on it.) It"s a present for you. Only you must earn it!
Wife, where am I sitting?
ANiSYA. Enough of your humbug. I"m not afraid of you. Whose money are you spreeing on and buying your fat wench presents with? Mine!