VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. Of course, Potápych, you're an old man, why shouldn't you take a drink once in a while? POTÁPYCH. Sure, I guess I work for it. VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. Just so, Potápych! POTÁPYCH. I'm tired of being lectured by you! VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. I wish you well, Potápych. POTÁPYCH. No need for it! [_Silence_] But you keep upsetting the mistress so! If you'd only put in a word for us when she's in a good humor; but you just look for the wrong time, in order to complain of us. VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. What do you say, Potápych? God preserve me! POTÁPYCH. What's that! No matter how much you swear, I know you! For instance, why are you coming to the mistress now? VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. To wish the benefactress good morning. POTÁPYCH. You'd better not come. VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. Why so? POTÁPYCH. It must be she got out the wrong side of bed; she's out of sorts. [VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA _rubs her hands with pleasure_] Here now, I see that you're happy; you're dying for some deviltry or other. Phew! Lord forgive us! What a disposition! VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. You are saying insulting words to me, Potápych, insulting to my very heart. When did I ever say anything about you to the mistress? POTÁPYCH. If not about me, then about somebody else. VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. But that's my business. POTÁPYCH. Your spite's always getting in its work. VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. Not spite, not spite, my friend! You're mistaken! I have just been so insulted that it's impossible to live in this world after it. I shall die, but I shall not forget. MADAM ULANBÉKOV _enters._ POTÁPYCH _goes out._ SCENE II MADAM ULANBÉKOV _and_ VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. [_Kissing both of_ MADAM ULANBÉKOV'S _hands_] You have risen early, benefactress. You must have an awful lot of things on your mind. MADAM ULANBÉKOV. [_Sitting down_] I didn't sleep much. I had a bad dream. VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. What, a dream, benefactress? The dream may be terrible, but God is merciful. Not the dream, but what is going on in reality, disturbs you, benefactress. I see that; I've seen it a long time. MADAM ULANBÉKOV. Bah, what is it to me what's going on? VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. Why, benefactress, don't we know that your son, dear little soul! is struck with every creature he meets? MADAM ULANBÉKOV. You make me tired. VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. I'm so sorry for you, benefactress! Don't look for any consolation in this life! You scatter benefactions upon every one; but how do they repay you? The world is full of lust. MADAM ULANBÉKOV. Go away! VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. [_Weeping_] I can't keep back my tears when I look at you! My heart bleeds that they don't respect you, that they don't respect you even in your own house! In your honorable house, in such pious premises as these, to do such things! MADAM ULANBÉKOV. [_Frowning_] You silly crow! You want to croak about something or other. Well, croak away!