Akím That is so at first, so to speak, it takes your breath away; but when you get used to it, it is all right. It is just like the swills, so to speak, very much like it. And as to the smell, so to speak, fellows like us must not be offended by it. We can change our clothes, for all that. I wanted Nikíta to go home and, so to speak, look after things. Let him look after the house, and so I will earn something in town—
Peter. You want to leave your son at home,—that is all right. But how about the money you have taken on account?
Akím. That's so, that's so, Ignátych. You have said that correctly, so to speak, because if you have hired yourself out you have sold yourself, and you have to abide by it, so to speak. But, if he could get married, so to speak, would you let him off for awhile?
Peter. There is no objection to that.
Matréna. Only we do not agree upon it. I will lay everything before you, Peter Ignátych, as I would before God. You will judge between my old man and me. He has taken it into his head to marry him off. And to whom is it he marries him? If she were a decent girl, I would not be my son's enemy; but this one has a fault.
Akím. Now this is not right. You are accusing the girl for nothing, so to speak, for nothing. Because this girl has been wronged by my son do you see. The same girl, you see.
Peter. How has she been wronged?
Akím. It appears, so to speak, she has been wronged by Nikíta,—by Nikíta, you see.
Matréna. Stop a moment. I can express myself better than you, so let me tell it. You know yourself that our son used to work on the railroad before he came to your house. Now a girl, Marína by name, who was a cook for the workmen,—she is not very clever,—has
