GAVRÍLOVNA. It dries up the chest, and you're all dried up as it is. VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. What a life! What a life! I am not dried up from tea-drinking, my dear, but from the insults of the world. GAVRÍLOVNA. Insults! You insult everybody yourself, as if something were stirring you up! VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. Don't you dare talk to me like that. Just remember who you are. I once owned serfs myself; at my place, such people as you didn't dare peep, they walked the chalk. I didn't let your sort get high-headed! GAVRÍLOVNA. That time's gone by. God gives a vicious cow no horns. VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. Oh, you monsters, wretches! You want me to die. Soon I shall die, soon; my soul feels its fast approaching end! _Raising her eyes heavenward_ Shelter me from men, O lid of my coffin! Take me to thee, moist earth! Then you'll be happy; then you'll be joyful! POTÁPYCH. We? What's it to us?.... Tend to your own business. GAVRÍLOVNA. While God is patient with your sins. VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. For my sins I have already been tortured here. I mourn now the sins of others. GAVRÍLOVNA. It would be better for you not to bother with other people's sins. Now you're getting ready to die, yet you talk about the sins of others. Aren't you afraid? VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. Afraid of what? Why should I be afraid? GAVRÍLOVNA. Of that little black man with the hook. He's waiting for you now, I guess. VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. Where am I? Where am I? My God! Just as if I were in a slough; monsters.... _From the left side_ MADAM ULANBÉKOV, NÁDYA, LÍZA, _and_ GRÍSHA _come in_. SCENE II _The same and_ MADAM ULANBÉKOV, GRÍSHA, NÁDYA, _and_ LÍZA. VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. Did our benefactress deign to attend prayer service? MADAM ULANBÉKOV. Yes, I went to vespers in town; to-day is a holiday there. VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. Did you distribute generous alms among the people present? MADAM ULANBÉKOV. No, I only called in Pustaya Street at old man NEGLIGÉNTOV's. He asked me to set up his nephew; you see, the nephew is my godson. I'm sorry for these people! VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. And you, dear soul, are a benefactress to all. To all alike, to all! You do favors to people who aren't even worth your looking at. MADAM ULANBÉKOV. [_Sits down_] Never mind, my dear. One must do good to his neighbor. VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. But do they feel that good? Can they understand, heartless creatures, how great is your condescension to them? MADAM ULANBÉKOV. It's all the same to me, my dear! One must do good for his own sake, for his own soul. Then I stopped in to see the chief of police, and asked him to make NEGLIGÉNTOV head-clerk. VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. But, my benefactress, is he worthy?