PODKHALYÚZIN. Why, sure! Permit me, ma'am! With great pleasure! If you please, your little hand, ma'am! _[He kisses it. Silence]_ Olimpiáda Samsónovna, say something to me in the French dialect, ma'am! OLIMPIÁDA SAMSÓNOVNA. What shall I say to you? PODKHALYÚZIN. Oh, say anything--any little thing, ma'am. It's all the same to me, ma'am! OLIMPIÁDA SAMSÓNOVNA. _Kom voo zet zholi!_ PODKHALYÚZIN. What does that mean, ma'am? OLIMPIÁDA SAMSÓNOVNA. How nice you are! PODKHALYÚZIN. _[Jumping up from his chair]_ Aha! now here's a wife for you, ma'am! Hooray, Olimpiáda Samsónovna! You've treated me fine! Your little hand, please! _Enter_ TISHKA _with the pipe._ TISHKA. Ustinya Naúmovna has come. PODKHALYÚZIN. What the devil is she here for! TISHKA _goes out._ SCENE II _The same and_ USTÍNYA NAÚMOVNA USTÍNYA NAÚMOVNA. How are you managing to live, my jewels? PODKHALYÚZIN. Thanks to your prayers, Ustinya Naúmovna, thanks to your prayers. USTÍNYA NAÚMOVNA. [_Kissing_ OLIMPIÁDA SAMSÓNOVNA] Why, I believe you've grown better looking, and have filled out a bit! OLIMPIÁDA SAMSÓNOVNA. Bah, what nonsense you're chattering, Ustinya Naúmovna! Now, what struck you to come here? USTÍNYA NAÚMOVNA. What nonsense, my jewel! Here's what's up. Whether you like it or not, you can't help it.--If you like to slide down-hill you've got to pull up your sled.--Now, why have you forgotten me completely, my jewels? Or haven't you had a chance yet to look about you? I suppose you're all the time billing and cooing. PODKHALYÚZIN. We have that failing, Ustinya Naúmovna; we have it. USTÍNYA NAÚMOVNA. Come, come now: just see what a nice sweetheart I got for you. PODKHALYÚZIN. We're well satisfied, Ustinya Naúmovna; we're well satisfied. USTÍNYA NAÚMOVNA. How could you be dissatisfied, my ruby? What's the matter with you! I suppose you're all the time bustling around over new clothes, now. Have you laid in a stock of stylish things yet? OLIMPIÁDA SAMSÓNOVNA. Not much so far, and that mostly because the new stuffs have just come in. USTÍNYA NAÚMOVNA. Naturally, my pearl, you can't help it; let 'em be of poor goods, so long's they're blue! But what kind of dresses did you order most of, woollens or silks? OLIMPIÁDA SAMSÓNOVNA. All sorts--both woollens and silks; not long ago I had a crape made with gold trimmings. USTÍNYA NAÚMOVNA. How much have you, all-in-all, my jewel?