PETER. If one weren't to goad you on a bit, one'd have no roof left over one's head before the year's out. Oh what people! ANÍSYA. You go shoving a dozen jobs on to one's shoulders, and then do nothing but scold. It's easy to lie on the oven and give orders. PETER [sighing] Oh, if 'twere not for this sickness that's got hold of me, I'd not keep him on another day. AKOULÍNA [off the scene] Gee up, gee, woo. [A colt neighs, the stamping of horses' feet and the creaking of the gate are heard]. PETER. Bragging, that's what he's good at. I'd like to sack him, I would indeed. ANÍSYA [mimicking him] "Like to sack him." You buckle to yourself, and then talk. AKOULÍNA [enters] It's all I could do to drive 'em in. That piebald always will ... PETER. And where's Nikíta? AKOULÍNA. Where's Nikíta? Why, standing out there in the street. PETER. What's he standing there for? AKOULÍNA. What's he standing there for? He stands there jabbering. PETER. One can't get any sense out of her! Who's he jabbering with? AKOULÍNA [does not hear] Eh, what? Peter waves her off. She sits down to her spinning. NAN [running in to her mother] Nikíta's father and mother have come. They're going to take him away. It's true! ANÍSYA. Nonsense! NAN. Yes. Blest if they're not! [Laughing] I was just going by, and Nikíta, he says, "Good-bye, Anna Petróvna," he says, "you must come and dance at my wedding. I'm leaving you," he says, and laughs. ANÍSYA [to her husband] There now. Much he cares. You see, he wants to leave of himself. "Sack him" indeed! PETER. Well, let him go. Just as if I couldn't find somebody else. ANÍSYA. And what about the money he's had in advance? Nan stands listening at the door for awhile, and then exit. PETER [frowning] The money? Well, he can work it off in summer, anyhow. ANÍSYA. Well, of course you'll be glad if he goes and you've not got to feed him. It's only me as'll have to work like a horse all the winter. That lass of yours isn't over fond of work either. And you'll be lying up on the oven. I know you. PETER. What's the good of wearing out one's tongue before one has the hang of the matter? ANÍSYA. The yard's full of cattle. You've not sold the cow, and have kept all the sheep for the winter: feeding and watering 'em alone takes all one's time, and you want to sack the labourer. But I tell you straight, I'm not going to do a man's work! I'll go and lie on the top of the oven same as you, and let everything go to pot! You may do what you like. PETER [to Akoulína] Go and see about the feeding, will you? it's time. AKOULÍNA. The feeding? All right. [Puts on a coat and takes a rope]. ANÍSYA. I'm not going to work for you. You go and work yourself. I've had enough of it, so there! PETER. That'll do. What are you raving about? Like a sheep with the staggers! ANÍSYA. You're a crazy cur, you are! One gets neither work nor pleasure from you. Eating your fill, that's all you do, you palsied cur, you!