“Dear niece! My affairs have compelled me to live for some years away from my relatives, and the great distance has deprived me of the pleasure of hearing any news from you. I am now living in Moscow after having been for some years in Siberia. I am a living example that it is possible by work and honesty to gain some wealth. By these means, fortune smiling upon me, I have saved up enough to have ten thousand roubles yearly income----” _Beastly and the Uncouths._ Ten thousand! _Truthful_ (_reads_). “Of which I make you, dear niece, my sole heiress----” _Mrs. Uncouth._ You an heiress! } } _Uncouth._ Sophia an heiress! } (_All together._) } _Beastly._ Her an heiress! } _Mrs. Uncouth_ (_hastening to embrace Sophia_). I congratulate you, Sophia! I congratulate you, my darling! I am beside myself with joy! Now you need a husband. I, I could not wish a better bride for my Mitrofán. That’s what I call a fine uncle! A real father! I always thought that God was taking care of him, that he was still alive. _Beastly_ (_stretching out his hand_). Well, sister, let us settle it right away. _Mrs. Uncouth_ (_whispering to Beastly_). Wait, brother, first we have to ask her whether she wants you. _Beastly._ What a question! Or do you really want to report to her as to a superior person? _Truthful._ Do you want me to finish the letter? _Beastly._ What for? Even if you were to keep on reading for five years you could not read out of it anything better than ten thousand. _Mrs. Uncouth_ (_to Sophia_). Sophia, my darling! Come with me to my sleeping-room. I have some important matter to talk to you about (_leading Sophia out_). _Beastly._ Pshaw! I see there is not much chance for a betrothal to-day! SCENE 8. TRUTHFUL, UNCOUTH, BEASTLY, A SERVANT _Servant_ (_to Uncouth, out of breath_). Sir, sir! Soldiers have come; they have stopped in our village. _Uncouth._ There is a misfortune! They will ruin us completely. _Truthful._ What frightens you so? _Uncouth._ Oh, I have seen terrible things, and I am afraid to show up before them. _Truthful._ Don’t be afraid. Of course, an officer is leading them, and he will not permit any insolence. Come, let us go to him. I am confident you are unnecessarily frightened. (_Truthful, Uncouth and Servant exeunt._) _Beastly._ They have all left me alone. I think I’ll take a walk in the cattle yard. _End of Act I._ AN OPEN-HEARTED CONFESSION OF MY ACTS AND THOUGHTS