SERVANTS' COOK. Work indeed! What is their work? Cards and piano--that's all their work. The young lady used to sit down to the piano as soon as she opened her eyes, and off she'd go! And that other one who lives here, the teacher, stands and waits. "When will the piano be free?" When one has finished, off rattles the other, and sometimes they'd put two pianos near one another and four of 'em would bust out at once. Bust out in such a manner, you could hear 'em down here! THIRD PEASANT. Oh Lord! SERVANTS' COOK. Well, and that's all the work they do! Piano or cards! As soon as they have met together--cards, wine, smoking, and so on all night long. And as soon as they are up: eating again! Enter Simon. SIMON. Hope you're enjoying your tea! FIRST PEASANT. Come and join us. SIMON [comes up to the table] Thank you kindly. [First Peasant pours out a cup of tea for him]. SECOND PEASANT. Where have you been? SIMON. Upstairs. SECOND PEASANT. Well, and what was being done there? SIMON. Why, I couldn't make it out at all! I don't know how to explain it. SECOND PEASANT. But what was it? SIMON. I can't explain it. They have been trying some kind of strength in me. I can't make it out. Tánya says, "Do it, and we'll get the land for our peasants; he'll sell it them." SECOND PEASANT. But how is she going to manage it? SIMON. I can't make it out, and she won't say. She says, "Do as I tell you," and that's all. SECOND PEASANT. But what is it you have to do? SIMON. Nothing just now. They made me sit down, put out the lights and told me to sleep. And Tánya had hidden herself there. They didn't see her, but I did. SECOND PEASANT. Why? What for? SIMON. The Lord only knows--I can't make it out. FIRST PEASANT. Naturally it is for the distraction of time. SECOND PEASANT. Well, it's clear you and I can make nothing of it. You had better tell me whether you have taken all your wages yet. SIMON. No, I've not drawn any. I have twenty-eight roubles to the good, I think. SECOND PEASANT. That's all right! Well, if God grants that we get the land, I'll take you home, Simon. SIMON. With all my heart! SECOND PEASANT. You've got spoilt, I should say. You'll not want to plough? SIMON. Plough? Only give me the chance! Plough or mow,--I'm game. Those are things one doesn't forget. FIRST PEASANT. But it don't seem very desirous after town life, for example? Eh! SIMON. It's good enough for me. One can live in the country too. FIRST PEASANT. And Daddy Mítry here, is already on the look-out for your place; he's hankering after a life of luckshury! SIMON. Eh, Daddy Mítry, you'd soon get sick of it. It seems easy enough when one looks at it, but there's a lot of running about that takes it out of one. SERVANTS' COOK. You should see one of their balls, Daddy Mítry, then you would be surprised! THIRD PEASANT. Why, do they eat all the time?