LUKÉRYA. Now that you and your husband live like cats and dogs, he can't help getting the notion into his noddle that you don't love him, but do love another. TATYÁNA. How shall I manage? LUKÉRYA. You'll have to change your tactics. Be very submissive; peasants like that. Make believe that you're in love with him; give him all sorts of humbug and he'll prick up his ears at it. Flatter him with all sorts of flatteries--that'll be a new thing for him. TATYÁNA. I'll have to say what I don't feel. LUKÉRYA. Where's the harm in that? How does he know what's in your heart? He doesn't need to understand that your action is make-believe, and not sincere. You'll see, after such actions, he'll believe in you so much that even though you made love before his very eyes, he wouldn't notice it. TATYÁNA. One can't make such a sudden change in oneself. LUKÉRYA. It certainly must be sudden. What's there to wait for? TATYÁNA. He's angry with me now; how can I approach him? I can't beg his pardon! LUKÉRYA. Why pardon? [_She thinks_] Do it this way: you tell grandfather Arkhíp that you'd like to make up with your husband, so that you'd have no misunderstandings, that you love your husband, and that you feel his displeasure very much. TATYÁNA. Well, I'll try. LUKÉRYA. It's all the same to me! I'm talking for your own good. TATYÁNA. Go and bring grandfather; he's sitting in the garden. [LUKÉRYA _goes out_] That's what it is for a woman to have wits! Even if she takes a fancy to a man she won't let anybody guess it. She'll so fool her husband that he'll just dote on her. But without wit one is lost. LUKÉRYA _comes in leading_ ARKHÍP. SCENE II TATYÁNA, LUKÉRYA, ARKHÍP ARKHÍP. Do you need me? What do you want me for? Tatyána, are you here? TATYÁNA. Yes, grandfather. ARKHÍP. Lukérya is leading me, and she says: "Grandfather Arkhíp, we need you!" What business can you have of me in my old age? LUKÉRYA. You see, grandfather, sister is displeased with her husband. ARKHÍP. Well, what of that? Who is the judge between husband and wife? Let them live as they wish. TATYÁNA. What happiness is there in living so? It is better to live in harmony. ARKHÍP. Then what's the matter? Live in harmony! Who's preventing you? LUKÉRYA. You see, he has a very crude manner, and we're not used to it. ARKHÍP. Wait, don't put in your word. She has a tongue of her own. You tell me, Tatyána. TATYÁNA. My husband is now angry with me and doesn't even look at me; he thinks I don't love him, and in that he's mistaken. LUKÉRYA. [_Motioning to_ TATYÁNA _to talk_] She's afraid of his temper. TATYÁNA. I love him as my duty requires. If he thinks badly of me, I don't deserve it. Does he think I could betray him for any one else? I would never do such a thing in my life. LUKÉRYA. And such a splendid man! Doesn't she realize it?