Fruits of Culture: Act IV
Act IV
The same scene as in Act I. The next day. Two liveried footmen,
THEODORE IV�NITCH and GREGORY.
FIRST FOOTMAN (with grey whiskers). Yours is the third house to-day.
Thank goodness that all the at-homes are in this direction. Yours used
to be on Thursdays.
THEODORE IV�NITCH. Yes, we changed to Saturday so as to be on the same
day as the Gol�vkins and Grade von Grabes....
SECOND FOOTMAN. The Stcherb�kofs do the thing well. There's
refreshments for the footmen every time they've a ball.
[The two PRINCESSES, mother and daughter, come down the stairs
accompanied by BETSY. The old PRINCESS looks in her note-book
and at her watch, and sits down on the settle. GREGORY puts on
her overshoes.YOUNG PRINCESS. Now, do come. Because, if you refuse, and Dodo
refuses, the whole thing will be spoilt.BETSY. I don't know. I must certainly go to the Sho�bins. And then
there is the rehearsal.YOUNG PRINCESS. You'll have plenty of time. Do, please. Ne nous fais
pas faux bond.[13] F�dya and Koko will come.BETSY. J'en ai par-dessus la t�te de votre Koko.[14]
YOUNG PRINCESS. I thought I should see him here. Ordinairement il est
d'une exactitude....[15]BETSY. He is sure to come.
YOUNG PRINCESS. When I see you together, it always seems to me that he
has either just proposed or is just going to propose.BETSY. Yes, I don't suppose it can be avoided. I shall have to go
through with it. And it is so unpleasant!YOUNG PRINCESS. Poor Koko! He is head over ears in love.
BETSY. Cessez, les gens![16]
[YOUNG PRINCESS sits down, talking in whispers. GREGORY puts on
her overshoes.YOUNG PRINCESS. Well then, good-bye till this evening.
BETSY. I'll try to come.
OLD PRINCESS. Then tell your papa that I don't believe in anything of
the kind, but will come to see his new medium. Only he must let me
know when. Good afternoon, ma toute belle.[Kisses BETSY, and exit, followed by her daughter. BETSY goes
upstairs.GREGORY. I don't like putting on an old woman's overshoes for her; she
can't stoop, can't see her shoe for her stomach, and keeps poking her
foot in the wrong place. It's different with a young one; it's
pleasant to take her foot in one's hand.SECOND FOOTMAN. Hear him! Making distinctions!
FIRST FOOTMAN. It's not for us footmen to make such distinctions.
GREGORY. Why shouldn't one make distinctions; are we not men? It's
they think we don't understand! Just now they were deep in their talk,
then they look at me, and at once it's "lay zhon!"SECOND FOOTMAN. And what's that?
GREGORY. Oh, that means, "Don't talk, they understand!" It's the same
at table. But I understand! You say, there's a difference? I say there
is none.FIRST FOOTMAN. There is a great difference for those who understand.
GREGORY. There is none at all. To-day I am a footman, and to-morrow I
may be living no worse than they are. Has it never happened that
they've married footmen? I'll go and have a smoke.[Exit.
SECOND FOOTMAN. That's a bold young man you've got.
THEODORE IV�NITCH. A worthless fellow, not fit for service. He used to
be an office boy and has got spoilt. I advised them not to take him,
but the mistress liked him. He looks well on the carriage when they
drive out.FIRST FOOTMAN. I should like to send him to our Count; he'd put him in
his place! Oh, he don't like those scatterbrains. "If you're a
footman, be a footman and fulfil your calling." Such pride is not
befitting.[PETR�STCHEF comes running downstairs, and takes out a cigarette.
PETR�STCHEF (deep in thought). Let's see, my second is the same as my
first. Echo, a-co, co-coa. (Enter KOKO KL�NGEN, wearing his
pince-nez.) Ko-ko, co-coa. Cocoa tin, where do you spring from?KOKO KL�NGEN. From the Stcherb�kofs. You are always playing the
fool....PETR�STCHEF. No, listen to my charade. My first is the same as my
second, my third may be cracked, my whole is like your pate.KOKO KL�NGEN. I give it up. I've no time.
PETR�STCHEF. Where else are you going?
KOKO KL�NGEN. Where? Of course to the Ivins, to practice for the
concert. Then to the Sho�bins, and then to the rehearsal. You'll be
there too, won't you?PETR�STCHEF. Most certainly. At the re-her-Sall and also at the
re-her-Sarah. Why, at first I was a savage, and now I am both a savage
and a general.KOKO KL�NGEN. How did yesterday's s�ance go off?
PETR�STCHEF. Screamingly funny! There was a peasant, and above all, it
was all in the dark. Vovo cried like an infant, the Professor defined,
and M�rya Vas�levna refined. Such a lark! You ought to have been
there.KOKO KL�NGEN. I'm afraid, mon cher. You have a way of getting off with
a jest, but I always feel that if I say a word they'll construe it
into a proposal. Et �a ne m'arrange pas du tout, du tout. Mais du
tout, du tout! [17]PETR�STCHEF. Instead of a proposal, make a proposition, and receive a
sentence! Well, I shall go in to Vovo's. If you'll call for me, we can
go to the re-her-Sarah together.KOKO KL�NGEN. I can't think how you can be friends with such a fool.
He is so stupid--a regular blockhead!PETR�STCHEF. And I am fond of him. I love Vovo, but ... "with a love
so strange, ne'er towards him the path untrod shall be"....[Exit into Vovo's room.
[BETSY comes down with a LADY. KOKO bows significantly to BETSY.
BETSY (shaking KOKO'S hand without turning towards him. To LADY). You
are acquainted?LADY. No.
BETSY. Baron Kl�ngen.... Why were you not here last night?
KOKO KL�NGEN. I could not come, I was engaged.
BETSY. What a pity, it was so interesting! (Laughs.) You should have
seen what manifestations we had! Well, how is our charade getting on?KOKO KL�NGEN. Oh, the verses for mon second are ready. Nick composed
the verses, and I the music.BETSY. What are they? What are they? Do tell me!
KOKO KL�NGEN. Wait a minute; how does it go?... Oh, the knight sings:
"Oh, naught so beautiful as nature:
The Nautilus sails by.
Oh, naughty lass, oh, naughty lass!
Oh, nought, oh, nought! Oh, fie!"LADY. I see, my second is "nought," and what is my first?
KOKO KL�NGEN. My first is Aero, the name of a girl savage.
BETSY. Aero, you see, is a savage who wished to devour the object of
her love. (Laughs.) She goes about lamenting, and sings--"My appetite,"
KOKO KL�NGEN (interrupts)--
"How can I fight,"....
BETSY (chimes in)--
"Some one to chew I long.
I seeking go ...."KOKO KL�NGEN--
"But even so...."
BETSY--
"No one to chew can find."
KOKO KL�NGEN--
"A raft sails by,"
BETSY--
"It cometh nigh;
Two generals upon it...."KOKO KL�NGEN--
"Two generals are we:
By fate's hard decree,
To this island we flee."And then, the refrain--
"By fate's hard decree,
To this island we flee."LADY. Charmant!
BETSY. But just think how silly!
KOKO KL�NGEN. Yes, that's the charm of it!
LADY. And who is to be Aero?
BETSY. I am. And I have had a costume made, but mamma says it's "not
decent." And it is not a bit less decent than a ball dress. (To
THEODORE IV�NITCH.) Is Bourdier's man here?THEODORE IV�NITCH. Yes, he is waiting in the kitchen.
LADY. Well, and how will you represent Aeronaut?
BETSY. Oh, you'll see. I don't want to spoil the pleasure for you. Au
revoir.LADY. Good-bye!
[They bow. Exit LADY.
BETSY (to KOKO KL�NGEN). Come up to mamma.
[BETSY and KOKO go upstairs. JACOB enters from servants'
quarters, carrying a tray with teacups, cakes, etc., and goes
panting across the stage.JACOB (to the FOOTMEN). How d'you do? How d'you do?
[FOOTMEN bow.
JACOB (to THEODORE IV�NITCH). Couldn't you tell Gregory to help a bit!
I'm ready to drop....[Exit up the stairs.
FIRST FOOTMAN. That is a hard-working chap you've got there.
THEODORE IV�NITCH. Yes, a good fellow. But there now--he doesn't
satisfy the mistress, she says his appearance is ungainly. And now
they've gone and told tales about him for letting some peasants into
the kitchen yesterday. It is a bad look-out: they may dismiss him. And
he is a good fellow.SECOND FOOTMAN. What peasants were they?
THEODORE IV�NITCH. Peasants that had come from our Koursk village to
buy some land. It was night, and they were our fellow-countrymen, one
of them the father of the butler's assistant. Well, so they were asked
into the kitchen. It so happened that there was thought-reading going
on. Something was hidden in the kitchen, and all the gentlefolk came
down, and the mistress saw the peasants. There was such a row! "How is
this," she says; "these people may be infected, and they are let into
the kitchen!".... She is terribly afraid of this infection.[Enter GREGORY.
THEODORE IV�NITCH. Gregory, you go and help Jacob. I'll stay here. He
can't manage alone.GREGORY. He's awkward, that's why he can't manage.
[Exit.
FIRST FOOTMAN. And what is this new mania they have got? This
infection!... So yours also is afraid of it?THEODORE IV�NITCH. She fears it worse than fire! Our chief business,
nowadays, is fumigating, washing, and sprinkling.FIRST FOOTMAN. I see. That's why there is such a stuffy smell here.
(With animation.) I don't know what we're coming to with these
infection notions. It's just detestable! They seem to have forgotten
the Lord. There's our master's sister, Princess Mosol�va, her daughter
was dying, and, will you believe it, neither father nor mother would
come near her! So she died without their having taken leave of her.
And the daughter cried, and called them to say good-bye--but they
didn't go! The doctor had discovered some infection or other! And yet
their own maid and a trained nurse were with her, and nothing happened
to them; they're still alive![Enter VAS�LY LEON�DITCH and PETR�STCHEF from VAS�LY LEON�DITCH'S
room, smoking cigarettes.PETR�STCHEF. Come along then, only I must take Koko--Cocoanut, with
me.VAS�LY LEON�DITCH. Your Koko is a regular dolt; I can't bear him. A
hare-brained fellow, a regular gad-about! Without any kind of
occupation, eternally loafing around! Eh, what?PETR�STCHEF. Well, anyhow, wait a bit, I must say goodbye.
VAS�LY LEON�DITCH. All right. And I will go and look at my dogs in the
coachman's room. I've got a dog there that's so savage, the coachman
said, he nearly ate him.PETR�STCHEF. Who ate whom? Did the coachman really eat the dog?
VAS�LY LEON�DITCH. You are always at it!
[Puts on outdoor things and goes out.
PETR�STCHEF (thoughtfully). Ma - kin - tosh, Co - co - tin.... Let's
see.[Goes upstairs.
[JACOB runs across the stage.
THEODORE IV�NITCH. What's the matter?
JACOB. There is no more thin bread and butter. I said....
[Exit.
SECOND FOOTMAN. And then our master's little son fell ill, and they
sent him at once to an hotel with his nurse, and there he died without
his mother.FIRST FOOTMAN. They don't seem to fear sin! I think you cannot escape
from God anywhere.THEODORE IV�NITCH. That's what I think.
[JACOB runs upstairs with bread and butter.
FIRST FOOTMAN. One should consider too, that if we are to be afraid of
everybody like that, we'd better shut ourselves up within four walls,
as in a prison, and stick there![Enter T�NYA; she bows to the FOOTMEN.
T�NYA. Good afternoon.
[FOOTMEN bow.
T�NYA. Theodore Iv�nitch, I have a word to say to you.
THEODORE IV�NITCH. Well, what?
T�NYA. The peasants have come again, Theodore Iv�nitch....
THEODORE IV�NITCH. Well? I gave the paper to Simon.
T�NYA. I have given them the paper. They were that grateful! I can't
say how! Now they only ask you to take the money.THEODORE IV�NITCH. But where are they?
T�NYA. Here, by the porch.
THEODORE IV�NITCH. All right, I'll tell the master.
T�NYA. I have another request to you, dear Theodore Iv�nitch.
THEODORE IV�NITCH. What now?
T�NYA. Why, don't you see, Theodore Iv�nitch, I can't remain here any
longer. Ask them to let me go.[Enter JACOB, running.
THEODORE IV�NITCH (to JACOB). What d'you want?
JACOB. Another samov�r, and oranges.
THEODORE IV�NITCH. Ask the housekeeper.
[Exit JACOB.
THEODORE IV�NITCH (to T�NYA). How is that?
T�NYA. Why, don't you see, my position is such....
JACOB (runs in). There are not enough oranges.
THEODORE IV�NITCH. Serve up as many as you've got. (Exit JACOB.) Now's
not the time! Just see what a bustle we are in.T�NYA. But you know yourself, Theodore Iv�nitch, there is no end to
this bustle; one might wait for ever--you know yourself--and my affair
is for life.... Dear Theodore Iv�nitch, you have done me a good turn,
be a father to me now, choose the right moment and tell her, or else
she'll get angry and won't let me have my passport.[18]THEODORE IV�NITCH. Where's the hurry?
T�NYA. Why, Theodore Iv�nitch, it's all settled now.... And I could go
to my godmother's and get ready, and then after Easter we'd get
married.[19] Do tell her, dear Theodore Iv�nitch!THEODORE IV�NITCH. Go away--this is not the place.
[An elderly GENTLEMAN comes downstairs, puts on overcoat, and
goes out, followed by the SECOND FOOTMAN.[Exit T�NYA. Enter JACOB.
JACOB. Just fancy, Theodore Iv�nitch, it's too bad! She wants to
discharge me now! She says, "You break everything, and forget Frisk,
and you let the peasants into the kitchen against my orders!" And you
know very well that I knew nothing about it. Taty�na told me, "Take
them into the kitchen"; how could I tell whose order it was?THEODORE IV�NITCH. Did the mistress speak to you?
JACOB. She's just spoken. Do speak up for me, Theodore Iv�nitch! You
see, my people in the country are only just getting on their feet, and
suppose I lose my place, when shall I get another? Theodore Iv�nitch,
do, please![ANNA P�VLOVNA comes down with the old COUNTESS, whom she is
seeing off. The COUNTESS has false teeth and hair. The FIRST
FOOTMAN helps the COUNTESS into her outdoor things.ANNA P�VLOVNA. Oh, most certainly, of course! I am so deeply touched.
COUNTESS. If it were not for my illness, I should come oftener to see
you.ANNA P�VLOVNA. You should really consult Peter Petr�vitch. He is
rough, but nobody can soothe one as he does. He is so clear, so
simple.COUNTESS. Oh no, I shall keep to the one I am used to.
ANNA P�VLOVNA. Pray, take care of yourself.
COUNTESS. Merci, mille fois merci.[20]
[GREGORY, dishevelled and excited, jumps out from the servants'
quarters. SIMON appears behind him in the doorway.SIMON. You'd better leave her alone!
GREGORY. You rascal! I'll teach you how to fight, you scamp, you!
ANNA P�VLOVNA. What do you mean? Do you think you are in a
public-house?GREGORY. This coarse peasant makes life impossible for me.
ANNA P�VLOVNA (provoked). You've lost your senses. Don't you see? (To
COUNTESS.) Merci, mille fois merci. A mardi! [21][Exeunt COUNTESS and FIRST FOOTMAN.
ANNA P�VLOVNA (to GREGORY). What is the meaning of this?
GREGORY. Though I do occupy the position of a footman, still I won't
allow every peasant to hit me; I have my pride too.ANNA P�VLOVNA. Why, what has happened?
GREGORY. Why, this Simon of yours has got so brave, sitting with the
gentlemen, that he wants to fight!ANNA P�VLOVNA. Why? What for?
GREGORY. Heaven only knows!
ANNA P�VLOVNA (to SIMON). What is the meaning of it?
SIMON. Why does he bother her?
ANNA P�VLOVNA. What has happened?
SIMON (smiles). Well, you see, he is always catching hold of T�nya,
the lady's-maid, and she won't have it. Well, so I just moved him
aside a bit, just so, with my hand.GREGORY. A nice little bit! He's almost caved my ribs in, and has torn
my dress-coat, and he says, "The same power as came over me yesterday
comes on me again," and he begins to squeeze me.ANNA P�VLOVNA (to SIMON). How dare you fight in my house?
THEODORE IV�NITCH. May I explain it to you, ma'am? I must tell you
Simon is not indifferent to T�nya, and is engaged to her. And Gregory
--one must admit the truth--does not behave properly, nor honestly, to
her. Well, so I suppose Simon got angry with him.GREGORY. Not at all! It is all his spite, because I have discovered
their trickery.ANNA P�VLOVNA. What trickery?
GREGORY. Why, at the s�ance. All those things, last night,--it was not
Simon but T�nya who did them! I saw her getting out from under the
sofa with my own eyes.ANNA P�VLOVNA. What is that? From under the sofa?
GREGORY. I give you my word of honor. And it was she who threw the
paper on the table. If it had not been for her the paper would not
have been signed, nor the land sold to the peasants.ANNA P�VLOVNA. And you saw it yourself?
GREGORY. With my own eyes. Shall I call her? She'll not deny it.
ANNA P�VLOVNA. Yes, call her.
[Exit GREGORY.
[Noise behind the scenes. The voice of the DOORKEEPER, "No, no,
you cannot." DOORKEEPER is seen at the front door, the three
PEASANTS rush in past him, the SECOND PEASANT first; the THIRD
one stumbles, falls on his nose, and catches hold of it.DOORKEEPER. You must not go in!
SECOND PEASANT. Where's the harm? We are not doing anything wrong. We
only wish to pay the money!FIRST PEASANT. That's just it; as by laying on the signature the
affair is come to a conclusion, we only wish to make payment with
thanks.ANNA P�VLOVNA. Wait a bit with your thanks. It was all done by fraud!
It is not settled yet. Not sold yet.... Leon�d.... Call Leon�d
Fy�doritch.[Exit DOORKEEPER.
[LEON�D FY�DORITCH enters, but, seeing his wife and the PEASANTS,
wishes to retreat.ANNA P�VLOVNA. No, no, come here, please! I told you the land must not
be sold on credit, and everybody told you so, but you let yourself be
deceived like the veriest blockhead.LEON�D FY�DORITCH. How? I don't understand who is deceiving?
ANNA P�VLOVNA. You ought to be ashamed of yourself! You have grey
hair, and you let yourself be deceived and laughed at like a silly
boy. You grudge your son some three hundred roubles which his social
position demands, and let yourself be tricked of thousands--like a
fool!LEON�D FY�DORITCH. Now come, Annette, try to be calm.
FIRST PEASANT. We are only come about the acceptation of the sum, for
example....THIRD PEASANT (taking out the money). Let us finish the matter, for
Christ's sake!ANNA P�VLOVNA. Wait, wait!
[Enter T�NYA and GREGORY.
ANNA P�VLOVNA (angrily). You were in the small drawing-room during the
s�ance last night?[T�NYA looks around at THEODORE IV�NITCH, LEON�D FY�DORITCH, and
SIMON, and sighs.GREGORY. It's no use beating about the bush; I saw you myself....
ANNA P�VLOVNA. Tell me, were you there? I know all about it, so you'd
better confess! I'll not do anything to you. I only want to expose him
(pointing to LEON�D FY�DORITCH) your master.... Did you throw the
paper on the table?T�NYA. I don't know how to answer. Only one thing,--let me go home.
[Enter BETSY unobserved.
ANNA P�VLOVNA (to LEON�D FY�DORITCH). There, you see! You are being
made a fool of.T�NYA. Let me go home, Anna P�vlovna!
ANNA P�VLOVNA. No, my dear! You may have caused us a loss of thousands
of roubles. Land has been sold that ought not to be sold!T�NYA. Let me go, Anna P�vlovna!
ANNA P�VLOVNA. No; you'll have to answer for it! Such tricks won't do.
We'll have you up before the Justice of the Peace!BETSY (comes forward). Let her go, mamma. Or, if you wish to have her
tried, you must have me tried too! She and I did it together.ANNA P�VLOVNA. Well, of course, if you have a hand in anything, what
can one expect but the very worst results![Enter the PROFESSOR.
PROFESSOR. How do you do, Anna P�vlovna? How do you do, Miss Betsy?
Leon�d Fy�doritch, I have brought you a report of the Thirteenth
Congress of Spiritualists at Chicago. An amazing speech by Schmidt!LEON�D FY�DORITCH. Oh, that is interesting!
ANNA P�VLOVNA. I will tell you something much more interesting! It
turns out that both you and my husband were fooled by this girl! Betsy
takes it on herself, but that is only to annoy me. It was an
illiterate peasant girl who fooled you, and you believed it all.
There were no mediumistic phenomena last night; it was she (pointing
to T�NYA) who did it!PROFESSOR (taking off his overcoat). What do you mean?
ANNA P�VLOVNA. I mean that it was she who, in the dark, played on the
guitar and beat my husband on the head and performed all your idiotic
tricks--and she has just confessed!PROFESSOR (smiling). What does that prove?
ANNA P�VLOVNA. It proves that your mediumism is--tomfoolery; that's
what it proves!PROFESSOR. Because this young girl wished to deceive, we are to
conclude that mediumism is "tomfoolery," as you are pleased to express
it? (Smiles.) A curious conclusion! Very possibly this young girl may
have wished to deceive: that often occurs. She may even have done
something; but then, what she did--she did. But the manifestations of
mediumistic energy still remain manifestations of mediumistic energy!
It is even very probable that what this young girl did evoked (and so
to say solicited) the manifestation of mediumistic energy,--giving it
a definite form.ANNA P�VLOVNA. Another lecture!
PROFESSOR (sternly). You say, Anna P�vlovna, that this girl, and
perhaps this dear young lady also, did something; but the light we all
saw, and, in the first case the fall, and in the second the rise of
temperature, and Grossman's excitement and vibration--were those
things also done by this girl? And these are facts, Anna P�vlovna,
facts! No! Anna P�vlovna, there are things which must be investigated
and fully understood before they can be talked about, things too
serious, too serious....LEON�D FY�DORITCH. And the child that M�rya Vas�levna distinctly saw?
Why, I saw it too.... That could not have been done by this girl.ANNA P�VLOVNA. You think yourself wise, but you are--a fool.
LEON�D FY�DORITCH. Well, I'm going.... Alex�y Vlad�miritch, will you
come?[Exit into his study.
PROFESSOR (shrugging his shoulders, follows). Oh, how far, how far, we
still lag behind Western Europe![Enter JACOB.
ANNA P�VLOVNA (following LEON�D FY�DORITCH with her eyes). He has been
tricked like a fool, and he sees nothing! (To JACOB.) What do you
want?JACOB. How many persons am I to lay the table for?
ANNA P�VLOVNA. For how many?... Theodore Iv�nitch! Let him give up the
silver plate to you. Be off, at once! It is all his fault! This man
will bring me to my grave. Last night he nearly starved the dog that
had done him no harm! And, as if that were not enough, he lets the
infected peasants into the kitchen, and now they are here again! It is
all his fault! Be off at once! Discharge him, discharge him! (To
SIMON.) And you, horrid peasant, if you dare to have rows in my house
again, I'll teach you!SECOND PEASANT. All right, if he is a horrid peasant there's no good
keeping him; you'd better discharge him too, and there's an end of it.ANNA P�VLOVNA (while listening to him looks at THIRD PEASANT). Only
look! Why, he has a rash on his nose--a rash! He is ill; he is a
hotbed of infection!! Did I not give orders, yesterday, that they were
not to be allowed into the house, and here they are again? Drive them
out!THEODORE IV�NITCH. Then are we not to accept their money?
ANNA P�VLOVNA. Their money? Oh yes, take their money; but they must be
turned out at once, especially this one! He is quite rotten!THIRD PEASANT. That's not just, lady. God's my witness, it's not just!
You'd better ask my old woman, let's say, whether I am rotten! I'm
clear as crystal, let's say.ANNA P�VLOVNA. He talks!... Off, off with him! It's all to spite
me!... Oh, I can't bear it, I can't!... Send for the doctor![Runs away, sobbing. Exit also JACOB and GREGORY.
T�NYA (to BETSY). Miss Elizabeth, darling, what am I to do now?
BETSY. Never mind, you go with them and I'll arrange it all.
[Exit.
FIRST PEASANT. Well, your reverence, how about the reception of the
sum now?SECOND PEASANT. Let us settle up, and go.
THIRD PEASANT (fumbling with the packet of banknotes). Had I known,
I'd not have come for the world. It's worse than a fever!THEODORE IV�NITCH (to DOORKEEPER). Show them into my room. There's a
counting-board there. I'll receive their money. Now go.DOORKEEPER. Come along.
THEODORE IV�NITCH. And it's T�nya you have to thank for it. But for
her you'd not have had the land.FIRST PEASANT. That's just it. As she made the proposal, so she put it
into effect.THIRD PEASANT. She's made men of us. Else what were we? We had so
little land, no room to let a hen out, let's say, not to mention the
cattle. Good-bye, dear! When you get to the village, come to us and
eat honey.SECOND PEASANT. Let me get home and I'll start brewing the beer for
the wedding! You will come?T�NYA. Yes, I'll come, I'll come! (Shrieks.) Simon, this is fine,
isn't it?[Exeunt PEASANTS.
THEODORE IV�NITCH. Well, T�nya, when you have your house I'll come to
visit you. Will you welcome me?T�NYA. Dear Theodore Iv�nitch, just the same as we would our own
father![Embraces and kisses him.
CURTAIN
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