FIRST GUEST. Yes, fierce; very fierce! [_They bow and go out_. SCENE VIII GORDÉY KÁRPYCH, KÓRSHUNOV, LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA, ANNA IVÁNOVNA, MÁSHA, LÍZA, _girls_, MÍTYA, GÚSLIN, _and_ RAZLYULYÁYEV. KÓRSHUNOV. Let's join the young ladies. Where did you pick up such beauties--he, he! [_Walks towards_ LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA] Good evening, Lyubóv Gordéyevna, my beauty. [LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA _bows_] May I join your company? LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA. We don't drive any one away. ANNA IVÁNOVNA. Be seated; you'll be our guest. KÓRSHUNOV. You're pretty chilly to the old man! It's Christmas time now, and I suppose we may exchange kisses. ANNA IVÁNOVNA. Why be so affectionate? KÓRSHUNOV. Gordéy Kárpych, may I kiss your daughter? And I must confess--he, he--I'm fond of this sort of thing. Yes, well, who doesn't like it! He, he! GORDÉY KÁRPYCH. You're welcome to do so; don't stand on ceremony. KÓRSHUNOV. Will you give me a kiss, young lady? LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA. If my father wants me to. [_They exchange kisses_. KÓRSHUNOV. Well now, every one of them, right down the line. ANNA IVÁNOVNA. I suppose so! I'm not proud. MÁSHA. Oh, how embarrassing! LÍZA. Well, there's nothing to be said; I must say it's a treat! GORDÉY KÁRPYCH. [_Going up to_ MÍTYA] Why are you here? Is this your place? "The crow has flown into the lofty palace!" MÍTYA, GÚSLIN _and_ RAZLYULYÁYEV _go out_. SCENE IX GORDÉY KÁRPYCH, KÓRSHUNOV, LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA, ANNA IVÁNOVNA, MÁSHA, LÍZA _and girls_. KÓRSHUNOV. [_Seats himself near_ LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA] I'm not like you, Lyubóv Gordéyevna; you didn't even want to kiss me, he, he, he! And I've brought you a little present. LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA. You needn't have taken the trouble. KÓRSHUNOV. Here I've brought you some diamonds, he, he! [_Gives them to her_. LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA. Oh, they're earrings! I thank you humbly. ANNA IVÁNOVNA. Show them to us. MÁSHA. But they are charming! LÍZA. And in such good taste! KÓRSHUNOV. Give me your hand. [_Takes it and kisses it_] You see, I like you very much, he, he, he! I like you very much; well, but you don't like me, I suppose? LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA. Why shouldn't I like you? KÓRSHUNOV. Why? You like some one else, that's why. But you will come to love me! I'm a good man--a jolly man, he, he, he! LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA. I don't know what you are talking about. KÓRSHUNOV. I say, you will come to love me. Why not? I'm not old yet. [_Looks at her_] Am I an old man? He, he, he! Well, well, there's no harm in that. To make up for it you shall wear cloth of gold. I haven't any money! I'm a poor man. I've only got about five hundred thousand, he, he, he! In silver! [_Takes her hand_. LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA. [_Rising_] I don't need your money. GORDÉY KÁRPYCH. Lyubóv, where are you going? LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA. To mother! GORDÉY KÁRPYCH. Wait! She'll come here. LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA _sits down._ KÓRSHUNOV. You don't want to sit by the old man? Give me your hand, young lady; I will kiss it.