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down the steps of the porch to AnĂ­sya and NikĂ­ta. Don’t go anywhere. He’s got the money on him. I felt it on a string round his neck. AnĂ­sya Oh my head, my head! MatryĂłna If you don’t keep wide awake now, then you may whistle for it. If his sister comes⁠—then goodbye to it! AnĂ­sya That’s true. She’ll come and he’ll give it her. What’s to be done? Oh my poor head! MatryĂłna What is to be done? Why, look here; the samovar 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. AnĂ­sya Oh! I’m afeared! MatryĂłna 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 NikĂ­ta will hide it. AnĂ­sya Oh my head, my head! I don’t know how I’m going to⁠ ⁠
 MatryĂłna Don’t talk about it I tell you, do as I bid you. NikĂ­ta! NikĂ­ta What is it? MatryĂłna You stay here⁠—sit down⁠—in case something is wanted. NikĂ­ta 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. MatryĂłna Catches him by the arm. Stay here, I tell you. Nan enters. AnĂ­sya Well? Nan She was down in her daughter’s vegetable plot⁠—she’s coming. AnĂ­sya Coming! What shall we do? MatryĂłna There’s plenty of time if you do as I tell you. AnĂ­sya 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. MatryĂłna Go on! I should think the samovar’s boiling over. AnĂ­sya Oh my head, my poor head! Exit. MatryĂłna Approaches NikĂ­ta. Now then, sonnie. Sits down beside him. Your affairs must also be thought about, and not left anyhow. NikĂ­ta What affairs? MatryĂłna Why, this affair⁠—how you’re to live your life. NikĂ­ta How to live my life? Others live, and I shall live! MatryĂłna The old man will probably die today. NikĂ­ta Well, if he dies, God give him rest! What’s that to me? MatryĂłna 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. NikĂ­ta And what’s it you’ve been bothering about? MatryĂłna About your affairs, about your future. If you don’t take trouble in good time you’ll get nothing. You know IvĂĄn MosĂ©itch? Well, I’ve been to him too. I went there the other day. I had something else to settle, you know. Well, so I sat and chatted awhile and then came to the point. “Tell me, IvĂĄn MosĂ©itch,” says I, “how’s one to manage an affair of this kind? Supposing,” says I, “a peasant as is a widower married a second wife, and supposing all the children he has is a daughter by the first wife, and a daughter by the second. Then,” says I, “when that peasant dies, could an outsider get hold of the homestead by marrying the widow? Could he,” says I, “give both the daughters in marriage and remain master of the house himself?” “Yes, he could,” says he, “but,” says he, “it would mean a deal of trouble; still the thing could be managed by means of money, but if there’s no money it’s no good trying.” NikĂ­ta Laughs. That goes without saying, only fork out the money. Who does not want money? MatryĂłna Well then, honey, so I spoke out plainly about the affair. And he says, “First and foremost, your son will have to get himself on the register of that village⁠—that will cost something. The elders will have to be treated. And they, you see, they’ll sign. Everything,” says he, “must be done sensibly.” Look, unwraps her kerchief and takes out a paper he’s written out this paper; just read it, you’re a scholar, you know. NikĂ­ta reads. NikĂ­ta This paper’s only a decision for the elders to sign. There’s no great wisdom needed for that. MatryĂłna But you just hear what IvĂĄn MosĂ©itch bids us do. “Above all,” he says, “mind and don’t let the money slip away, dame. If she don’t get hold of the money,” he says, “they’ll not let her do it. Money’s the great thing!” So look out, sonnie, things are coming to a head. NikĂ­ta What’s that to me? The money’s hers⁠—so let her look out. MatryĂłna Ah, sonnie, how you look at it! How can a woman manage such affairs? Even if she does get the money, is she capable of arranging it all? One knows what a woman is! You’re a man anyhow. You can hide it, and all that. You see, you’ve after all got more sense, in case of anything happening. NikĂ­ta Oh, your woman’s notions are all so inexpedient! MatryĂłna Why inexpedient? You just collar the money, and the woman’s in your hands. And then should she ever turn snappish you’d be able to tighten the reins! NikĂ­ta Bother you all⁠—I’m going. AnĂ­sya Quite pale, runs out of the hut and round the corner to MatryĂłna. So it was, it was on him! Here it is! Shows that she has something under her apron. MatryĂłna Give it to NikĂ­ta, he’ll hide it. NikĂ­ta, take it and hide it somewhere. NikĂ­ta All right, give here! AnĂ­sya O-oh, my poor head! No, I’d better do it myself. Goes towards the gate. MatryĂłna Seizing her by the arm. Where are you going to? You’ll be missed. There’s the sister coming; give it him; he knows what to do. Eh, you blockhead! AnĂ­sya Stops irresolutely. Oh, my head, my head! NikĂ­ta Well, give it here. I’ll shove it
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