ULYÁNA. How do you do, sister? You are so proud you never call on us! But we're common folks; so we picked ourselves up and came, uninvited. KÚRITSYN. How do you do, sister? Why are you so contemptuous of your relatives? You might run over once in a while for tea; your feet are able to carry you! KRASNÓV. How has she time to go visiting? She has so much to do at home. She's just beginning to get used to the household! ULYÁNA. Yes, sister, you must get used to the household. That's our woman's duty. You didn't marry a millionaire, so you needn't put on airs. KÚRITSYN. Yes, you'd better learn, and well. ULYÁNA. [_Approaching_ AFÓNYA] Ah, Afónya, are you still sick? You ought to take something! KÚRITSYN. [_Also approaching_ AFÓNYA] You eat more--then you'll get well. If you don't want to, then force yourself to eat; that's what I tell you! [_Speaks in a low voice to_ AFÓNYA. TATYÁNA. [_To her husband_] What have you done! What sort of company have you brought? LUKÉRYA. To be frank, you've spoiled everything. How embarrassing, how awfully embarrassing! KRASNÓV. What, embarrassing? Is some lord coming? What's the odds! Nothing to get excited over! Let him see our relatives. LUKÉRYA. Much he's interested! KRASNÓV. I can't chase my sister away for him. So there's nothing more to be said about it. I haven't set eyes on him yet, I don't know what he's like; these, at any rate, are our own. And, besides, they'll not stay long. [_To his wife_] Be seated; pour the tea! Brother, sister, have a cup of tea. _All excepting_ AFÓNYA _seat themselves at the table_. KÚRITSYN. Brother, this is a holiday occasion, so it is customary before tea to--just a little. Don't you drink, yourself? KRASNÓV. From the day I married Tatyána Danílovna I stopped all that. Tatyána Danílovna, treat brother and sister with some vodka. TATYÁNA. [_Takes out of the cupboard and places on the table decanter, glasses, and refreshments_] Have some, sister! [ULYÁNA _drinks_] Have some, brother! KÚRITSYN. That's no invitation, you don't know how to do it. KRASNÓV. Brother, don't be quite so particular! My wife doesn't know your common ways, and there's no use knowing them. Please, without ceremony. KÚRITSYN. [_After drinking_] You are spoiling your wife, that's what I tell you. Freedom spoils even a good wife. You ought to take example from me, and teach her common sense; that would be lots better. Ask your sister how I trained her; we had a hot time of it. ULYÁNA. Yes, you, Manuylo Kalinich, are a terrible barbarian, and a blood-sucker! You spend your whole life bossing your wife and showing your authority. KÚRITSYN. What words are those? Who's talking? What's that you say? [_Looking around_] Is any stranger here? Seems to me, my people in my own house don't dare to speak that way!