NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. Not only will she understand, but you too will understand that it is the only thing to do. ALEXÁNDRA IVÁNOVNA. Never! Enter Mary Ivánovna. NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. Well, Mary! I didn't wake you this morning, did I? MARY IVÁNOVNA. No, I was not asleep. And have you had a successful day? NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. Yes, very. MARY IVÁNOVNA. Why, your coffee is quite cold! Why do you drink it like that? By the way, we must prepare for our visitors. You know the Cheremshánovs are coming? NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. Well, if you're glad to have them, I shall be very pleased. MARY IVÁNOVNA. I like her and her children, but they have chosen a rather inconvenient time for their visit. ALEXÁNDRA IVÁNOVNA [rising] Well, talk matters over with him, and I'll go and watch the tennis. A pause, then Mary Ivánovna and Nicholas Ivánovich begin both talking at once. MARY IVÁNOVNA. It's inconvenient, because we must have a talk. NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. I was just saying to Aline ... MARY IVÁNOVNA. What? NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. No, you speak first. MARY IVÁNOVNA. Well, I wanted to have a talk with you about Styópa. After all, something _must_ be decided. He, poor fellow, feels depressed, and does not know what awaits him. He came to me, but how can I decide? NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. Why decide? He can decide for himself. MARY IVÁNOVNA. But, you know, he wants to enter the Horse-Guards as a volunteer, and in order to do that he must get you to countersign his papers, and he must also be in a position to keep himself; and you don't give him anything. [Gets excited]. NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. Mary, for heaven's sake don't get excited, but listen to me. I don't give or withhold anything. To enter military service of one's own free will, I consider either a stupid, insensate action, suitable for a savage if the man does not understand the evil of his action, or despicable if he does it from an interested motive.... MARY IVÁNOVNA. But nowadays everything seems savage and stupid to you. After all, he must live; you lived! NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH [getting irritable] I lived when I did not understand; and when nobody gave me good advice. However, it does not depend on me but on him. MARY IVÁNOVNA. How not on you? It's you who don't give him an allowance. NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. I can't give what is not mine! MARY IVÁNOVNA. Not yours? What do you mean? NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. The labour of others does not belong to me. To give him money, I must first take it from others. I have no right to do that, and I cannot do it! As long as I manage the estate I must manage it as my conscience dictates; and I cannot give the fruits of the toil of the overworked peasants to be spent on the debaucheries of Life-Guardsmen. Take over my property, and then I shall not be responsible! MARY IVÁNOVNA. You know very well that I don't want to take it, and moreover I can't. I have to bring up the children, besides nursing them and bearing them. It is cruel!