The Poor Bride

bulging, arms raised, shouts in a strange voice, and then back in; then, after a little while, another one, and that is how they carry on. What is good about that!

Oh my, oh my!

Well, judge for yourself, the father watches and watches...

Very well, Karpovna, thank you. You know yourself, my business is women's work... stop by again in a few days, we will talk... there is no time now, Khorkova is coming.

I will, I will. (She bows and leaves; Khorkova enters).

SCENE IX.

Arina Egorovna! You are most welcome! Do sit down!

I am only here for a minute, Anna Petrovna, just for a minute. Imagine, I was in town, and I thought, let me drop in on Anna Petrovna; even though she is arrogant and never visits us, I thought, I will stop by anyway.

Forgive me, my dear, it is always business, I swear to God there is no time; judge for yourself, my work is women's work, I must handle everything myself. We are currently in a lawsuit over the house, so I do not sleep at night. If they take it away, where will I go? And I have a daughter of marriageable age. How can one be without a man in the house? It is impossible.

Well, Anna Petrovna, I thank God. You know my Misha, he is so modest, so respectful. "Mother," he says, "it does not matter to me that you are a simple and uneducated woman, but I," he says, "am an educated man—I love and adore you."