MADAM ULANBÉKOV. Well, I know you. You're never at rest in your own soul unless you're about to say something mean. You will please be more careful; otherwise you'll drive me out of patience one of these days; it'll be all the worse for you. [_Silence_] Serve the tea. GAVRÍLOVNA. Right away, mistress. _She pours out two cups_. POTÁPYCH _hands them to_ MADAM ULANBÉKOV _and to_ VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. MADAM ULANBÉKOV. Pour Grísha a cup, too; he went with me to-day, and he's tired out. GAVRÍLOVNA. Yes, mistress. [_She pours out a cup and hands it to_ GRÍSHA. GRÍSHA. Why didn't you put more milk in it? Are you stingy, eh? GAVRÍLOVNA. [_Adding milk_] As it is, you're fattened on milk, like a calf. GRÍSHA _takes the cup and goes out through the door into the garden._ MADAM ULANBÉKOV. I have thought of marrying NÁDYA to NEGLIGÉNTOV--with a decent settlement, of course. You say that he leads a bad life; consequently we must hasten the wedding. She is a girl of good principles, she'll hold him back, otherwise he'll ruin himself with his bachelor habits. Bachelor life is very bad for young men. NÁDYA. [_To_ LÍZA] Do you hear, Líza? What's this? My God! LÍZA. You just have to listen, and you can't say a word. VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. It's high time she was married, benefactress; why should she be hanging around here? And now your young son, the angel, has come. MADAM ULANBÉKOV. Oh, be still! What are you thinking up now? Why, he's only a child! VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. A child, benefactress! Well, there's nothing more to be said; God gave you a son as a joy and a consolation. And we can never feast our eyes enough on him. It's just as if the sunshine had come into our house. So good-natured, so merry, so gentle with every one! But he's already running after the girls so; he never lets one pass; and they, silly things, are tickled to death; they fairly snort with delight. MADAM ULANBÉKOV. You're lying. He never has a chance to see the girls anywhere, I think; all day long they are in their own side of the house, and, besides, they never go anywhere. VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. Ah, benefactress, there are no locks to keep a girl in, once she takes a notion to do something. MADAM ULANBÉKOV. You hear, Gavrílovna! Look after my girls. You know I won't have any loose conduct. You tell them that so they'll know I mean it. [_To_ VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA] But no, there can't be anything like that. You're merely disturbing me with your silly notions. What a dirty tongue you have! What business had you to chatter? And now I can't get the stuff out of my head! Keep watch, Gavrílovna! GAVRÍLOVNA. What's the use of listening to her, mistress? VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. But really, benefactress, am I saying anything bad? Would I dare to think any harm about him, that little angel? Of course he's still a child, he wants to frisk a little; but here he hasn't any companions, so he plays with the girls.