ANÍSYA. Oh, Nikíta darling! he's sent for his sister, and wants to give it to her. It will be a bad lookout for us. How are we going to live, if he gives her the money? They'll turn me out of the house! You try and manage somehow! You said he went to the shed last night. NIKÍTA. I saw him coming from there, but where he's shoved it to, who can tell? ANÍSYA. Oh, my poor head! I'll go and have a look there. [Nikíta steps aside]. MATRYÓNA [comes out of the hut and down the steps of the porch to Anísya and Nikíta] Don't go anywhere. He's got the money on him. I felt it on a string round his neck. ANÍSYA. Oh my head, my head! MATRYÓNA. If you don't keep wide awake now, then you may whistle for it. If his sister comes--then good-bye to it! ANÍSYA. That's true. She'll come and he'll give it her. What's to be done? Oh my poor head! MATRYÓNA. What is to be done? Why, look here; the samovár is boiling, go and make the tea and pour him out a cup, and then [whispers] put in all that's left in the paper. When he's drunk the cup, then just take it. He'll not tell, no fear. ANÍSYA. Oh! I'm afeared! MATRYÓNA. Don't be talking now, but look alive, and I'll keep his sister off if need be. Mind, don't make a blunder! Get hold of the money and bring it here, and Nikíta will hide it. ANÍSYA. Oh my head, my head! I don't know how I'm going to ... MATRYÓNA. Don't talk about it I tell you, do as I bid you. Nikíta! NIKÍTA. What is it? MATRYÓNA. You stay here--sit down--in case something is wanted. NIKÍTA [waves his hand] Oh these women, what won't they be up to? Muddle one up completely. Bother them! I'll really go and fetch out the potatoes. MATRYÓNA [catches him by the arm] Stay here, I tell you. Nan enters. ANÍSYA. Well? NAN. She was down in her daughter's vegetable plot--she's coming. ANÍSYA. Coming! What shall we do? MATRYÓNA. There's plenty of time if you do as I tell you. ANÍSYA. I don't know what to do; I know nothing, my brain's all in a whirl. Nan! Go, daughter, and see to the calves, they'll have run away, I'm afraid.... Oh dear, I haven't the courage. MATRYÓNA. Go on! I should think the samovár's boiling over. ANÍSYA. Oh my head, my poor head! [Exit]. MATRYÓNA [approaches Nikíta] Now then, sonnie. [Sits down beside him] Your affairs must also be thought about, and not left anyhow. NIKÍTA. What affairs? MATRYÓNA. Why, this affair--how you're to live your life. NIKÍTA. How to live my life? Others live, and I shall live! MATRYÓNA. The old man will probably die to-day. NIKÍTA. Well, if he dies, God give him rest! What's that to me? MATRYÓNA [keeps looking towards the porch while she speaks] Eh, sonnie! Those that are alive have to think about living. One needs plenty of sense in these matters, honey. What do you think? I've tramped all over the place after your affairs, I've got quite footsore bothering about matters. And you must not forget me when the time comes. NIKÍTA. And what's it you've been bothering about?