ciety--where each man should be seated, and what's to be done. But how is
it at other people's houses? They collect in one room, they sit down in a
ring, and sing peasant songs. Of course it's jolly, but I consider it's
vulgar; there's no style about it. And what do they drink in their
boorishness? Home-made cordials, all sorts of cherry water! And they don't
even _know_ that champagne is the proper thing! Oh, if I could live in
Moscow, or in Petersburg, I'd make a point of following every fashion.

KORSHUNOV. You don't mean every fashion?

GORDEY KARPYCH. Every one. As long as my money held out, I wouldn't
stint myself. You just look out, Lyubov; you toe the mark! Or else your
bridegroom--you see he's from Moscow--may be ashamed of you. I suppose you
don't even know how to walk gracefully, and you don't understand how to
talk as is proper in company.

LYUBOV GORDEYEVNA. I say what I feel, father; I wasn't brought up in a
boarding-school.

_The butler enters, and gives wine to KORSHUNOV and GORDEY KARPYCH. He
places the bottles on the table, and goes out._

GORDEY KARPYCH. That's it, son-in-law! Just let them know what sort of man
Gordey Karpych Tortsov is!

_EGORUSHKA comes in._

EGORUSHKA. Uncle Gordey Karpych, come here, if you please.

GORDEY KARPYCH. What's the matter with you?

EGORUSHKA. Come, please: there's such a scene! [_Laughs_]

GORDEY KARPYCH. [_Approaching_] What's the matter?

EGORUSHKA. Uncle Lyubim Karpych has come in.

GORDEY KARPYCH. Why did they let him in?

EGORUSHKA. It must be that he just took it into his head; we can't stop
him, anyhow. [_Bursts out laughing._]

GORDEY KARPYCH. What's he doing?

EGORUSHKA. He's turning out the guests. [_Bursts out laughing_] "You're
glad to eat another man's bread," says he. "I'm also the host," says he.
"I," says he---- [_Bursts out laughing._]

GORDEY KARPYCH. Sh--he's ruined me!

[_Goes out with EGORUSHKA._]

KORSHUNOV. What's all this about?

LYUBOV GORDEYEVNA. I don't know. It must be that uncle is--Sometimes he
takes a notion.

_Enter_ RAZLYULYAYEV, MASHA, _and_ LIZA.

SCENE IX

LYUBOV GORDEYEVNA, KORSHUNOV, RAZLYULYAYEV, MASHA, _and_ LIZA.

PELAGEYA EGOROVNA. [_At the door_] Where is your brother? Where is Lyubim
Karpych? What has he done? Oh, misery!

LYUBOV GORDEYEVNA. He isn't here, mother.

PELAGEYA EGOROVNA _goes out._

RAZLYULYAYEV. There you are! Lyubim Karpych is playing some famous tricks!
Ha, ha, ha! He's