PETER [spits and puts on coat] Faugh! The Lord have mercy! I'd better go myself and see what's up. [Exit]. ANÍSYA [after him] Scurvy long-nosed devil! AKOULÍNA. What are you swearing at dad for? ANÍSYA. Hold your noise, you idiot! AKOULÍNA [going to the door] I know why you're swearing at him. You're an idiot yourself, you bitch. I'm not afraid of you. ANÍSYA. What do you mean? [Jumps up and looks round for something to hit her with] Mind, or I'll give you one with the poker. AKOULÍNA [opening the door] Bitch! devil! that's what you are! Devil! bitch! bitch! devil! [Runs off]. ANÍSYA [ponders] "Come and dance at my wedding!" What new plan is this? Marry? Mind, Nikíta, if that's your intention, I'll go and ... No, I can't live without him. I won't let him go. NIKÍTA [enters, looks round, and seeing Anísya alone approaches quickly. In a low tone] Here's a go; I'm in a regular fix! That governor of mine wants to take me away,--tells me I'm to come home. Says quite straight I'm to marry and live at home. ANÍSYA. Well, go and marry! What's that to me? NIKÍTA. Is that it? Why, here am I reckoning how best to consider matters, and just hear her! She tells me to go and marry. Why's that? [Winking] Has she forgotten? ANÍSYA. Yes, go and marry! What do I care? NIKÍTA. What are you spitting for? Just see, she won't even let me stroke her.... What's the matter? ANÍSYA. This! That you want to play me false.... If you do,--why, I don't want you either. So now you know! NIKÍTA. That'll do, Anísya. Do you think I'll forget you? Never while I live! I'll not play you false, that's flat. I've been thinking that supposing they do go and make me marry, I'd still come back to you. If only he don't make me live at home. ANÍSYA. Much need I'll have of you, once you're married. NIKÍTA. There's a go now. How is it possible to go against one's father's will? ANÍSYA. Yes, I daresay, shove it all on your father. You know it's your own doing. You've long been plotting with that slut of yours, Marína. It's she has put you up to it. She didn't come here for nothing t'other day. NIKÍTA. Marína? What's she to me? Much I care about her!... Plenty of them buzzing around. ANÍSYA. Then what has made your father come here? It's you have told him to. You've gone and deceived me. [Cries]. NIKÍTA. Anísya, do you believe in a God or not? I never so much as dreamt of it. I know nothing at all about it. I never even dreamt of it--that's flat! My old dad has got it all out of his own pate. ANÍSYA. If you don't wish it yourself who can force you? He can't drive you like an ass. NIKÍTA. Well, I reckon it's not possible to go against one's parent. But it's not by my wish. ANÍSYA. Don't you budge, that's all about it! NIKÍTA. There was a fellow wouldn't budge, and the village elder gave him such a hiding.... That's what it might come to! I've no great wish for that sort of thing. They say it touches one up....