BOLSHÓV. Yes, much I have to listen to your high-falutin' talk. I've decided to marry my daughter to a clerk, and I'll have my way, and don't you dare argue; I don't give a hang for anybody. Come now, we'll go take a snack; but just let them kid each other, and maybe they'll make it up somehow or other. RISPOLÓZHENSKY. Let's go, Samsón Sílych, and you and I, for company, will just take a thimbleful. Yes, yes, Agraféna Kondrátyevna, that's the first duty, that children should obey their parents. We didn't start that custom, and we shan't see the last of it. _They all rise and go out except_ LÍPOCHKA, PODKHALYÚZIN, _and_ AGRAFÉNA KONDRÁTYEVNA. LÍPOCHKA. Mamma, what does this mean? Does he want to make a cook of me? [_She weeps_. PODKHALYÚZIN. Mamma, ma'am! Such a son-in-law as will respect you and, naturally, make your old age happy, aside from me you won't find, ma'am. AGRAFÉNA KONDRÁTYEVNA. How are you going to do that, my dear? PODKHALYÚZIN. Mamma, ma'am! God has made me aspire so high, ma'am for this reason, ma'am, because the other fellow, mamma, will turn you down flat, ma'am; but I, till I land in my coffin [_weeps_], must have feeling, ma'am! AGRAFÉNA KONDRÁTYEVNA. Ah, saints alive! But how can this be? BOLSHÓV. [_Through the door_] Wife, come here! AGRAFÉNA KONDRÁTYEVNA. Coming, my dear, coming! PODKHALYÚZIN. Mamma, you remember the word I said just now! AGRAFÉNA KONDRÁTYEVNA _goes out_. SCENE V LÍPOCHKA _and_ PODKHALYÚZIN _Silence_ PODKHALYÚZIN. Olimpiáda Samsónovna, ma'am! Olimpiáda Samsónovna! I suppose you abominate me? Say only one word, ma'am! Just let me kiss your little hand! LÍPOCHKA. You blockhead, you ignorant lout! PODKHALYÚZIN. But why, Olimpiáda Samsónovna, do you want to insult me, ma'am? LÍPOCHKA. I'll tell you once, now and forever, that I won't marry you, and I won't! PODKHALYÚZIN. That's just as you please, ma'am! Love can't be forced. Only here's what I want to announce to you, ma'am---- LÍPOCHKA. I won't listen to you; go away from me! As if you were an educated gentleman! You see that I wouldn't marry you for anything in the world--you ought to break off yourself! PODKHALYÚZIN. Now, Olimpiáda Samsónovna, you were pleased to say "break off." Only, if I should break off, what would happen then, ma'am? LÍPOCHKA. Why, the thing that would happen would be that I'd marry an aristocrat. PODKHALYÚZIN. An aristocrat, ma'am! But an aristocrat won't take you without a dowry! LÍPOCHKA. What do you mean, without dowry? What are you talking about? Just take a look and see what kind of a dowry I have; it fairly hits you in the face! PODKHALYÚZIN. Those dish-rags, ma'am? A nobleman won't take dish-rags. A nobleman wants it in cash, ma'am. LÍPOCHKA. What of it? Dad will give cash! PODKHALYÚZIN. All right, if he will, ma'am! But what if he hasn't any to give? You don't know about your papa's affairs, but I know 'em mighty well; your papa's a bankrupt, ma'am.