FIRST PEASANT. If only you get this business about the sale of the land settled, the Commune would pay your marriage expenses. [Refuses the tea. TANYA (pouring out tea). Do have another cup. THIRD PEASANT. You get it done, and we'll arrange your marriage, and I myself, let's say, will dance at the wedding. Though I've never danced in all my born days, I'll dance then! TANYA (laughing). All right, I'll be in hopes of it. [Silence. SECOND PEASANT (examines TANYA). That's all very well, but you're not fit for peasant work. TANYA. Who? I? Why, don't you think me strong enough? You should see me lacing up my mistress. There's many a peasant couldn't tug as hard. SECOND PEASANT. Where do you tug her to? TANYA. Well, there's a thing made with bone, like--something like a stiff jacket, only up to here! Well, and I pull the strings just as when you saddle a horse--when you ... what d'ye call it? You know, when you spit on your hands! SECOND PEASANT. Tighten the girths, you mean. TANYA. Yes, yes, that's it. And you know I mustn't shove against her with my knee. [Laughs. SECOND PEASANT. Why do you pull her in? TANYA. For a reason! SECOND PEASANT. Why, is she doing penance? TANYA. No, it's for beauty's sake! FIRST PEASANT. That's to say, you pull in her paunch for appearance' sake. TANYA. Sometimes I lace her up so that her eyes are ready to start from her head, and she says, "Tighter," till my hands tingle. And you say I'm not strong! [PEASANTS laugh and shake their heads. TANYA. But here, I've been jabbering. [Runs away, laughing. THIRD PEASANT. Ah, the lassie has made us laugh! FIRST PEASANT. She's a tidy one! SECOND PEASANT. She's not bad. [Enter SAHATOF and VASILY LEONIDITCH. SAHATOF holds a teaspoon in his hand. VASILY LEONIDITCH. Not exactly a dinner, but a dejeuner dinatoire. And first-rate it was, I tell you. Ham of sucking-pig, delicious! Roulier feeds one splendidly! I've only just returned. (Sees PEASANTS.) Ah, the peasants are here again! SAHATOF. Yes, yes, that's all very well, but we came here to hide this article. Where shall we hide it? VASILY LEONIDITCH. Excuse me a moment. (To SERVANTS' COOK.) Where are the dogs? SERVANTS' COOK. In the coachman's quarters. You can't keep dogs in the servants' kitchen! VASILY LEONIDITCH. Ah, in the coachman's quarters? All right. SAHATOF. I am waiting. VASILY LEONIDITCH. Excuse me, please. Eh, what? Hide it? I'll tell you what. Let's put it into one of the peasants' pockets. That one. I say, where's your pocket? Eh, what? THIRD PEASANT. What for d'ye want my pocket? You're a good 'un! My pocket! There's money in my pocket! VASILY LEONIDITCH. Where's your bag, then? THIRD PEASANT. What for? SERVANTS' COOK. What d'you mean? That's the young master! VASILY LEONIDITCH (laughs. To SAHATOF). D'you know why he's so frightened? Shall I tell you? He's got a heap of money. Eh, what?