LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA. [_Gives her hand_] Oh, good heavens! KÓRSHUNOV. What a hand! He, he, he! Like velvet! [_Strokes her hand, and then puts on a diamond ring._ LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA. [_Freeing her hand_] Oh, let me go! I don't want it; I don't want it! KÓRSHUNOV. That's all right; it's no loss to me--it won't ruin me. LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA. But I don't want it. Give it to whomever you like. [_Takes it off and returns it._ KÓRSHUNOV. I gave it to you, and I won't take it back! He, he, he! _Enter_ PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA, _and after her,_ ARÍNA _and_ EGÓRUSHKA _with wine and glasses._ SCENE X _The same with_ PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA, ARÍNA, _and_ EGÓRUSHKA GORDÉY KÁRPYCH. Come now and have a drink. KÓRSHUNOV. All right, Gordéy Kárpych, give me something to drink. And you girls, sing a song in my honor--I love to have respect shown me. PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. Girls, sing a song for him. GORDÉY KÁRPYCH. [_Uncorks the bottle, pours out champagne, and offers it to him_] To our dear friend Afrikán Savvich! Make a bow, wife! PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. If you please, Afrikán Savvich, I humbly beg you. KÓRSHUNOV _takes the glass._ GORDÉY KÁRPYCH. [_Takes the glass_] Wife, drink! PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. Oh, somehow I don't like this kind of wine! Well, yes! I'll take just a glass. GIRLS. [_Sing_] "Ah, who is he, our bachelor, And who is still unwed? Afrikán's our bachelor And Savvich still unwed. He jumped on the horse, The horse skips to and fro; He rides through the meadows, And green the meadows grow, And flowers blow." KÓRSHUNOV. [_Seats himself near_ LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA] That's nice. I like that. Now, then, come here some one. [_A girl comes up, he pats her on the cheek_] Oh, you little bright eyes! You girls, I suppose, need a lot to set off your fair faces and rosy blushes; he, he, he! But I haven't any money! It will be on me, he, he, he! Hold out your apron! [_He tosses her some small change; the girl bows and goes out_] Now, then, Gordéy Kárpych, tell your wife why we came. GORDÉY KÁRPYCH. I told you, wife, long ago, that living in this town bored me, because you can't take a step here without seeing that the people are absolutely ignorant and uneducated. And so I want to move from this place to Moscow. But there will be a man there who is no stranger to us--our dear son-in-law, Afrikán Savvich. PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. Oh! Oh! What are you saying! KÓRSHUNOV. Yes, we've shaken hands on it, Pelagéya Egórovna. What are you afraid of? I'm not going to eat her! PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. Oh, Lord! [_Seizes her daughter_] She's my daughter! I won't give her up! GORDÉY KÁRPYCH. Wife! PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. My dear Gordéy Kárpych! Don't trifle with a mother's heart! Stop! You've fairly staggered me! GORDÉY KÁRPYCH. Wife, you know me! And you, Afrikán Savvich, don't be uneasy: with me saying is doing! KÓRSHUNOV. You have promised--then keep your word. [_Rises, goes to the girls, and speaks to them in a low voice._