Matréna. Don't forget the rouble. I promised the old fellow I would bring it to him. He is worried about it.
Anísya. Of course. (Goes to a coffer and conceals the powders.)
Matréna. You must keep them so, my dear, that people do not find them out. If, God forfend, something should be discovered, say they are for cockroaches. (Takes the rouble.) They are also good for cockroaches―(Interrupts her speech.)
Scene XI. The same, Peter, and Akím.
Akím (enter. Crosses himself before the image).
Peter (enter. Sits down). So what is it, Uncle Akím?
Akím. 'Twere better, Ignátych, 'twere better, so to speak—for, otherwise, you know, it may lead to badness―I should like, so, to take my son away, for work. And if you permit it, so—'Twere better―
Peter. All right, all right. Sit down, and let us have a chat. (Akim sits down.) Well? Do you want to get him married?
Matréna. As for marrying, Peter Ignátych, we can put it off. You know yourself, Ignátych, what want we live in. We have barely enough to live on, so how are we to get him married? How are we to marry him?
Peter. Consider what is best.
Matréna. There is no hurry about getting married. It is like this: it is not a raspberry that will drop off.
Peter. It is a good thing to get married.
Akím. I should like to, so to speak― Because, so to speak―there is some work in the city, some profitable work I have there, you know.
Matréna. Work! To clean privies. When he came home the other day, pshaw, I just vomited and vomited!
