KULIGIN. It's a hard case, sir! You must try and get the right side of him somehow. BORIS. But the point is, Kuligin, that it's impossible. Why, even his own children can never do anything to please him; so it's hardly likely I could! KUDRIASH. Who could please him, when his whole life's spent in bullying people? Especially where money's at stake; no accounts are ever settled without storms of abuse. Often people are glad to go short of their due, if only he'll let them off quietly. Woe to us if anyone vexes him in the morning! He falls foul of everyone all day long. BORIS. Every morning my aunt entreats us with tears in her eyes: "Don't anger him, friends! Dear boys, don't anger him!" KUDRIASH. But you can never avoid it! If he goes to the bazaar, it's all up! He scolds all the peasants. Even if they ask him less than cost price they never get off without abuse. And then he's upset for the whole day. SHAPKIN. He's a bully--there's no other word for him. KUDRIASH. A bully? I should think he is! BORIS. And what's fatal is if some man offends him, whom he daren't be rude to. Then all his household have to look out for themselves! KUDRIASH. Bless my soul! That was a joke though. Didn't that hussar let him have it on the Volga, at the ferry! Oh, a lovely shindy he kicked up afterwards, too. BORIS. Ah, and didn't his family suffer for it! Why, for a fortnight after we were all hiding away in the attics and cupboards. KULIGIN. Surely that's not the folk coming back from vespers? [_Several persons pass in the background_. KUDRIASH. Come on, Shapkin, let's get a drink! It's no good stopping here. [_They bow and exeunt_. BORIS. Oh, Kuligin, it's awfully hard here for me who've not been used to it. Everyone seems to look with unfriendly eyes at me, as though I were not wanted here, as though I were in their way. I don't understand the ways here. I know this is truly Russia, my own country, but still I can't get used to it. KULIGIN. And you never will get used to it, sir. BORIS. Why?