_Serafima._ Oh! mamma, how _can_ you? I don’t feel the heat. I just came to you for a minute to ask your advice. _Karp_ (_blowing on his saucer_). What about? _Serafima._ I want to marry. _Oulìta_ (_clasping her hands_). Good gracious! _Karp._ Well, why not? Why shouldn’t she? You might do worse.... _Oulìta_ (_shaking her head, and folding both hands on her breast_). My beauty! _Karp._ Who is the man? I should like to hear that. _Serafima._ He’s quite a young man, papa; he serves in the Law Court; and, I ought to tell you, he’s not well off. I wouldn’t marry a poor man, only that I am so very much in love with him. (_Raises eyes to heaven; sighs, and meditates._) _Oulìta_ (_clasping her hands_). Dear heart! _Karp._ And who is he? _Serafima._ His name is Prèzhnev. He’s a noble, of good family; and may get a good situation. I’ve thought it over; you see, I have my own fortune. If I am careful with the money, there will be enough for me and a husband. I am willing to deny myself many things rather than live without him. (_Raises eyes to heaven, and sighs._) _Karp._ Perhaps there’s something remarkable about him? _Serafima._ I haven’t heard of anything at all. _Karp._ Well, Serafima, my girl, remember one thing: you’re a cut-off twig; I shan’t give you any more money; so mind you don’t run through what you’ve got. _Oulìta._ The other one was old; but you say this one’s young, so very likely you may have children; you must keep the money for them. _Serafima._ With my character, I can’t squander my money. (_Gives cup to_ MATRYÒNA.) _Karp._ H’m!——You say he’s young; and you’re a widow, not a girl; I doubt you’ll feel a bit ashamed before your husband; he’ll just make a fool of you and get hold of your money. _Serafima_ (_takes cup from_ MATRYÒNA). Do you think that men love only for money? (_Raises eyes to heaven, and sighs._) _Karp._ Why, what did you suppose? Everybody knows that. _Serafima_ (_suddenly waking out of meditation_). I won’t give him any money. _Karp._ That’s right; that’s capital; you do as I told you. _Serafima._ Of course I will, papa. You needn’t think I’m going to be silly. _Karp._ We’re going to have a wedding too, soon. Matryòna was found in the garden with one of the shopmen; so I’m going to marry them. (MATRYÒNA _hides her face in her sleeve_.) I shall give him a thousand roubles, and have the wedding at my cost. _Oulìta._ It’s all very well for you to get up weddings; you just want a chance to have a drunken spree. _Karp._ Well, what now? _Oulìta._ Nothing. _Karp_ (_sternly_). No; you say what you mean. _Oulìta._ Nothing; really nothing. _Karp_ (_very sternly_). No; I will have you speak out; I want to hear. _Oulìta._ There’s no use speaking when you never listen.