_Antìp._ What next. Why shouldn’t she? Never fear, she’ll have you. _Shiryàlov_ (_drops his eyes lower_). She’ll say: “He’s old.” _Antìp._ Old? What does that matter? There’s no harm in that. Never fear, she’ll have you. And then, my mother’s fond of you. Why, what more can the girl want? A good respectable man: why shouldn’t she have you?—quiet and peaceable in his cups.... By the bye, you are quiet in drink, aren’t you? You don’t get fighting? _Shiryàlov._ As quiet as any innocent babe, Antìp Antìpych. Whenever I get a drop too much, it just sends me off to sleep; I never get rowdy and wild. _Antìp._ You didn’t used to come to blows with your first wife, did you? _Shiryàlov._ Never, so help me, God! _Antìp._ Very well then, why should she object to a decent fellow? Never fear, she’ll have you. You can send the matchmaker. There now, let’s drink health and happiness to you. (_They drink._) _Shiryàlov._ Antìp Antìpych, you’re my benefactor, my—I’ll tell you what: we’ve had a little drink here; come to me and we’ll make a regular jolly night of it. There’s more room in my place, and there are no women-folk, and we’ll fetch in the factory hands to give us a song. _Antìp._ All right. You go on and get everything ready, and I’ll come in a minute; I’ll just get my cap. (SHIRYÀLOV _goes out_.) _Antìp_ (_alone, winks_). What a beast it is! And such a sly fox! To see the doleful ways he puts on. It’s all poor Sènka’s fault. It’s very well for you to talk, my man, you’ve just got a sweet tooth in your old age. Well, for my part, I don’t care; it’s all one to me. But I know one thing, Paramòn Ferapòntych; when it comes to the dowry, who’ll get the best of who—that’s quite another matter. Mamma and I are not quite so green as you think. (_Goes out._) (MATRYÒNA _enters, showily dressed_; DÀRYA _follows her_.) _Matryòna._ Has Antìp Antìpych gone out? _Dàrya._ Yes, ma’am. _Matryòna._ Off on the spree! What a nuisance it is. He’ll disappear for two or three days now! (MÀRYA _enters, in her best clothes_.) _Màrya._ Come along, sister! Do you know how I got leave? _Matryòna._ How? _Màrya._ Said I wanted to go to vespers! (_They burst out laughing; and exeunt._) [Illustration] “_LA TRAVIATA._” (AS DESCRIBED BY A SHOPKEEPER). BY GORBOUNÒV. [Illustration]