ANÍSYA [to Matryóna] I feel a bit bolder, somehow, now you're here. [Goes up to porch. To Peter] Hadn't I better light the samovár? Here's Mother Matryóna come to see her son; you'll have a cup of tea with her? PETER. Well then, light it. [Anísya goes into the house. Matryóna comes up to the porch]. PETER. How do you do? MATRYÓNA [bowing] How d'you do, my benefactor; how d'you do, my precious ... still ill, I see. And my old man, he's that sorry! "Go," says he, "see how he's getting on." He sends his respects to you. [Bows again]. PETER. I'm dying. MATRYÓNA. Ah yes, Peter Ignátitch, now I look at you I see, as the saying has it, "Sickness lives where men live." You've shrivelled, shrivelled, all to nothing, poor dear, now I come to look at you. Seems illness does not add to good looks. PETER. My last hour has come. MATRYÓNA. Oh well, Peter Ignátitch, it's God's will you know, you've had communion, and you'll have unction, God willing. Your missus is a wise woman, the Lord be thanked; she'll give you a good burial, and have prayers said for your soul, all most respectable! And my son, he'll look after things meanwhile. PETER. There'll be no one to manage things! She's not steady. Has her head full of folly--why, I know all about it, I know. And my girl is silly and young. I've got the homestead together, and there's no one to attend to things. One can't help feeling it. [Whimpers]. MATRYÓNA. Why, if it's money, or something, you can leave orders. PETER [to Anísya inside the house] Has Nan gone? MATRYÓNA [aside] There now, he's remembered! ANÍSYA [from inside] She went then and there. Come inside, won't you? I'll help you in. PETER. Let me sit here a bit for the last time. The air's so stuffy inside. Oh, how bad I feel! Oh, my heart's burning.... Oh, if death would only come. MATRYÓNA. If God don't take a soul, the soul can't go out. Death and life are in God's will, Peter Ignátitch. You can't be sure of death either. Maybe you'll recover yet. There was a man in our village just like that, at the very point of death ... PETER. No, I feel I shall die to-day, I feel it. [Leans back and shuts his eyes]. ANÍSYA [enters] Well now, are you coming in or not? You do keep one waiting. Peter! eh, Peter! MATRYÓNA [steps aside and beckons to Anísya with her finger] Well? ANÍSYA [comes down the porch steps] Not there. MATRYÓNA. But have you searched everywhere? Under the floor? ANÍSYA. No, it's not there either. In the shed perhaps; he was rummaging there yesterday. MATRYÓNA. Go, search, search for all you're worth. Go all over everywhere, as if you licked with your tongue! But I see he'll die this very day, his nails are turning blue and his face looks earthy. Is the samovár ready? ANÍSYA. Just on the boil. NIKÍTA [comes from the other side, if possible on horseback, up to the gate, and does not see Peter. To Matryóna] How d'you do, mother, is all well at home? MATRYÓNA. The Lord be thanked, we're all alive and have a crust to bite.