_Arìna._ Ah! Agàfia Tikhònovna! you wouldn’t talk like that, my girl, if your poor papa, Tìkhon Pantlèymònovich, were alive. I remember how he used to bang his fist on the table and shout out—“I don’t care a rap for any man that’s ashamed to be a merchant; and I won’t give my daughter to an officer. Other people can do that if they’re fools enough! And my son shan’t be an officer, neither,” says he; “isn’t a merchant as good a servant of the State as any one else?” And he’d bang his fist on the table again, and, my girl, he _had_ got a fist of his own! Indeed, if the truth must be told, your poor mother would have lived longer if he hadn’t had such a heavy fist. _Agàfia._ There you see! And you think I’d put up with such a brute of a husband? I won’t marry a merchant for anything in the world! [Illustration: ARÌNA: “BUT WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO GET HOLD OF ANY NOBLE THAT’S WORTH HAVING?” ] _Arìna._ But Alexièy Dmìtrievich isn’t one of that kind. _Agàfia._ No, no! not for the world! He’s got a beard! And when he eats soup, it’ll all run down his beard. No, no, no! I won’t, I won’t! _Arìna._ But where are you going to get hold of any noble that’s worth having? You can’t go and pick him up in the street! _Agàfia._ Fèkla Ivànovna will find me one; she promised to find me a splendid one. _Arìna._ But, my precious one, she’s a liar. (_Enter_ FÈKLA.) _Fèkla._ Oh no, Arìna Pantelèymovna; it’s a sin to give people a bad name for nothing. _Agàfia._ Ah! Fèkla Ivànovna! Now then, tell me quick, have you found any one? _Fèkla._ Yes, yes; only don’t hurry me. I’ve been tearing about so—let me get my breath! I’ve been all over everywhere on your business—at the Departments, at the Ministries, running all over the place.... Why, do you know, little mother, I nearly got beaten on your account—it’s true! That old woman that arranged the Afèrov’s marriage—you know—she just flew at me. “What are you after here?” says she, “taking the bread out of other people’s mouths. Keep to your own quarter!” says she. And I told her right out, “I’ll do anything for my young lady,” says I, “so you needn’t put yourself out about it.” However, I don’t mind the trouble; I’ve got you a fine set of suitors. I can tell you there never were such fine ones since the world began, and never will be. Some of them will come to-day—that’s why I ran in to tell you. _Agàfia._ To-day! Oh, Fèkla Ivànovna, I’m afraid! _Fèkla._ There’s nothing to be afraid of, little mother. It’s a thing that’s got to be. They’ll only come and take a look at you—nothing more. Then you can take a look at them, and if you don’t like them they can go away. _Arìna._ I hope you are bringing good, respectable gentlemen? _Agàfia._ And how many are there? _Fèkla._ Let me see—there are six of them. _Agàfia_ (_screams_). Oh! _Fèkla._ Dear heart, you needn’t jump like that! It’s best to have a choice; if you don’t like one you can take another.