NIKÍTA [laughs] Well, that's a good one. What's the complaint? And who's told you--she herself? AKÍM. It's I am asking you, and you must now, what d'you call it, give me an answer. Have you got mixed up with the lass, I mean--mixed up, you know? NIKÍTA. I don't know what you mean. What's up? AKÍM. Foolin', I mean, what d'you call it? foolin'. Have you been foolin' with her, I mean? NIKÍTA. Never mind what's been! Of course one does have some fun with a cook now and then to while away the time. One plays the concertina and gets her to dance. What of that? PETER. Don't shuffle, Nikíta, but answer your father straight out. AKÍM [solemnly] You can hide it from men but not from God, Nikíta. You, what d'you call it--think, I mean, and don't tell lies. She's an orphan; so, you see, any one is free to insult her. An orphan, you see. So you should say what's rightest. NIKÍTA. But what if I have nothing to say? I have told you everything--because there isn't anything to tell, that's flat! [Getting excited] She can go and say anything about me, same as if she was speaking of one as is dead. Why don't she say anything about Fédka Mikíshin? Besides, how's this, that one mayn't even have a bit of fun nowadays? And as for her, well, she's free to say anything she likes. AKÍM. Ah, Nikíta, mind! A lie will out. Did anything happen? NIKÍTA [aside] How he sticks to it; it's too bad. [To Akím] I tell you, I know nothing more. There's been nothing between us. [Angrily] By God! and may I never leave this spot [crosses himself] if I know anything about it. [Silence. Then still more excitedly] Why! have you been thinking of getting me to marry her? What do you mean by it?--it's a confounded shame. Besides, nowadays you've got no such rights as to force a fellow to marry. That's plain enough. Besides, haven't I sworn I know nothing about it? MATRYÓNA [to her husband] There now, that's just like your silly pate, to believe all they tell you. He's gone and put the lad to shame all for nothing. The best thing is to let him live as he is living, with his master. His master will help us in our present need, and give us ten roubles, and when the time comes ... PETER. Well, Daddy Akím, how's it to be? AKÍM [looks at his son, clicking his tongue disapprovingly] Mind, Nikíta, the tears of one that's been wronged never, what d'you call it--never fall beside the mark but always on, what's name--the head of the man as did the wrong. So mind, don't what d'you call it. NIKÍTA [sits down] What's there to mind? mind yourself. NAN [aside] I must run and tell mother. [Exit]. MATRYÓNA [to Peter] That's always the way with this old mumbler of mine, Peter Ignátitch. Once he's got anything wedged in his pate there's no knocking it out. We've gone and troubled you all for nothing. The lad can go on living as he has been. Keep him; he's your servant. PETER. Well, Daddy Akím, what do you say?