Wife takes a decanter and fills glasses. WIFE. Do us the honour! FIRST ELDER [drinks] Your health! Ah, that's good. It runs right through all one's joints. That's what I call proper drink! The other three Elders do the same. Chief gets out of the oven. Labourer goes and stands by him. LABOURER [to Chief] See what will happen now! I'll trip up the woman with my foot and she'll spill the liquor. Formerly he did not grudge his last crust, but now see what he'll do about a glass of spirits! PEASANT. Now then, wife, fill again and hand it round in due order--first to our friend here, then to Daddy Michael. Wife fills a glass and goes round the table. The Labourer trips her up; she stumbles and upsets the glass. WIFE. Gracious goodness, I've spilt it! Why do you get in my way, confound you? PEASANT [to Wife] There now, what a clumsy beast! Her fingers are all thumbs, and she goes swearing at others! See what fine stuff she goes spilling on the ground! WIFE. I didn't do it on purpose. PEASANT. On purpose indeed! Wait till I get up; I'll teach you how to pour spirits on the ground. [To Labourer] And you too, you confounded fool, what are you prancing round the table for? Go to the Devil! Wife again fills and hands the glasses round. LABOURER [goes back to the oven to the Chief] You see? Formerly he did not grudge his last crust, and now for a glass of spirits he nearly beat his wife and sent me to you--to the Devil! CHIEF. It's good, very good! I'm satisfied. LABOURER. You wait a bit. Let them empty the bottle--and you'll see what will happen. Even now they are giving each other smooth oily words; presently they'll start flattering each other,--as cunning as foxes. PEASANT. Well, old friends, what's your opinion of my business? My grandfather has been living with me, and I have been feeding him and feeding him, and now he's gone to live with my uncle, and wants to take his share of the property and give it to uncle! Consider it well; you are wise men. We could as well do without our own heads as without you. There's no one in the whole village to come near you. Take you for example, Iván Fedótitch--doesn't every one say you're first among men? And as for me, I'll tell you the truth, Iván Fedótitch, I'm fonder of you than of my own father or mother. As for Michael Stepánitch, he's an old friend. FIRST ELDER [to Peasant] It's good to talk with a good man. It's the way to get wisdom. It's just the same with you. One can't find any one to compare with you either. SECOND ELDER. Wise and affectionate--that's what I like you for. THIRD ELDER. You have my best sympathy. I can't find words to express it. I was saying to my old woman only to-day ... FOURTH ELDER. A friend, a real friend! LABOURER [nudges the Chief] Do you hear? All lies! They abuse one another behind their backs, but see how thick they are laying it on now,--like foxes wagging their tails! And it all comes from that drink.