she
wouldn't say so.

LEONID. Why?

LIZA. Because she's bashful. Only let me go, sir! [_She gets free_] There
goes the old fury!

LEONID. Come out here into the garden after supper, when mamma goes to bed.

LIZA. You don't lose any time!

LEONID. Please come.

LIZA. Well, we'll see later. [VASILISA PEREGRINOVNA _enters_] Master,
please come to tea, your mamma is waiting.

LEONID. All right, I'm coming.

SCENE V

_The same and_ VASILISA PEREGRINOVNA

VASILISA PEREGRINOVNA. I saw you, my dear, I saw you.

LIZA. There was nothing to see. [_She goes out._

LEONID. Well, what did you see? What are you going to complain about? I
shall simply say that you lie. Whom are they going to believe quicker, you
or me?

[_He makes a grimace and goes out._

VASILISA PEREGRINOVNA. There, that's the way they all treat me. I can't
stand it! My heart is just sick. I'm a martyr in this world. [_She plucks
a flower viciously and pulls off its petals_] I believe that if I had the
power I'd do this to all of you! I'd do this to all of you! I'd do this to
all of you! You just wait, you young scamp! I'll catch you. My heart boils,
it boils, it boils over! And now I must smirk before the mistress as if I
were a fool. What a life! What a life! The sinners in hell do not suffer as
I suffer in this house! [_She goes out._

II

_A parlor. Rear centre, a door opening into the garden. Doors at the sides;
in the centre a round table._

SCENE I

_From a side door there enter a footman with a samovar and a maid with a
tea-service; they place both on the table and go out._ GAVRILOVNA _and_
POTAPYCH _enter after them_. GAVRILOVNA _prepares the tea_. VASILISA
PEREGRINOVNA _enters from the garden_.

VASILISA PEREGRINOVNA. My dear, you always serve me only water.

GAVRILOVNA. It isn't good for you to drink strong tea, madam.

VASILISA PEREGRINOVNA. It's not your business to worry about me!

GAVRILOVNA. It dries up the chest, and you're all dried up as it is.

VASILISA PEREGRINOVNA. What a life! What a life! I am not dried up from
tea-drinking, my dear, but from the insults of the world.

GAVRILOVNA. Insults! You insult everybody yourself, as if something were
stirring you up!

VASILISA PEREGRINOVNA. Don't you dare talk to me like that. Just remember
who you are. I once owned serfs myself; at my place, such people as you
didn't dare peep, they walked the chalk. I didn't let your sort get
high-headed!

GAVRILOV