Enter Akoulína, tying her kerchief over her head. ANÍSYA. Where are you off to? AKOULÍNA. Where? Why, he's told me to go for Aunt Martha. "Fetch my sister," he says. "I am going to die," he says. "I have a word to say to her." ANÍSYA [aside] Asking for his sister? Oh my poor head! Sure he wants to give it her. What shall I do? Oh! [To Akoulína] Don't go! Where are you off to? AKOULÍNA. To call Aunt. ANÍSYA. Don't go I tell you, I'll go myself. You go and take the clothes to the river to rinse. Else you'll not have finished by the evening. AKOULÍNA. But he told me to go. ANÍSYA. You go and do as you're bid. I tell you I'll fetch Martha myself. Take the shirts off the fence. AKOULÍNA. The shirts? But maybe you'll not go. He's given the order. ANÍSYA. Didn't I say I'd go? Where's Nan? AKOULÍNA. Nan? Minding the calves. ANÍSYA. Send her here. I dare say they'll not run away. [Akoulína collects the clothes, and exit]. ANÍSYA. If one doesn't go he'll scold. If one goes he'll give the money to his sister. All my trouble will be wasted. I don't myself know what I'm to do. My poor head's splitting. [Continues to work]. Enter Matryóna, with a stick and a bundle, in outdoor clothes. MATRYÓNA. May the Lord help you, honey. ANÍSYA [looks round, stops working, and claps her hands with joy] Well, I never expected this! Mother Matryóna, God has sent the right guest at the right time. MATRYÓNA. Well, how are things? ANÍSYA. Ah, I'm driven well-nigh crazy. It's awful! MATRYÓNA. Well, still alive, I hear? ANÍSYA. Oh, don't talk about it. He doesn't live and doesn't die! MATRYÓNA. But the money--has he given it to anybody? ANÍSYA. He's just sending for his sister Martha--probably about the money. MATRYÓNA. Well, naturally! But hasn't he given it to any one else? ANÍSYA. To no one. I watch like a hawk. MATRYÓNA. And where is it? ANÍSYA. He doesn't let out. And I can't find out in any way. He hides it now here, now there, and I can't do anything because of Akoulína. Idiot though she is, she keeps watch, and is always about. Oh my poor head! I'm bothered to death. MATRYÓNA. Oh, my jewel, if he gives the money to any one but you, you'll never cease regretting it as long as you live! They'll turn you out of house and home without anything. You've been worriting, and worriting all your life with one you don't love, and will have to go a-begging when you are a widow. ANÍSYA. No need to tell me, mother. My heart's that weary, and I don't know what to do. No one to get a bit of advice from. I told Nikíta, but he's frightened of the job. The only thing he did was to tell me yesterday it was hidden under the floor. MATRYÓNA. Well, and did you look there? ANÍSYA. I couldn't. The old man himself was in the room. I notice that sometimes he carries it about on him, and sometimes he hides it.