been after him. This same girl accuses our son Nikíta of having betrayed her.
Peter. That is not good.
Matréna. She is herself not much good. She, the slut, is running around among people.
Akím. Again, old woman, you are not saying so, not at all so, so to speak, not so -
Matréna. All my eagle here can say is "so, so," but what that "so" is, he does not know himself. Peter Ignátych, ask other people about this girl, and you will hear the same as I have been telling you. She is a homeless vagabond.
Peter (to Akim). If it is like that, Uncle Akím, there is no reason for his marrying her. A daughter-in-law is not a bast shoe that you can take off your leg.
Akím (excitedly). It is false, old woman, just so, what you say about the girl is false. Because the girl is very good, so, very good, so to speak, I am sorry for her, so to speak, for the girl.
Matréna. He is just like Maremyána the mendicant, who weeps for the whole world, and sits breadless at home. You are sorry for the girl, but you are not sorry for your son. Tie her around your neck, and walk about with her. What good is there in talking such nonsense?
Akím. No, it is not nonsense.
Matréna. Don't interrupt me! Let me finish!
Akím (interrupting her). No, it is not nonsense. You are coming back to yourself, so to speak, whether you are speaking of the girl or of yourself; you are coming back to yourself, but God will come back to His own, that's so. And so it is in this case.
Matréna. Oh, it only makes my tongue ache to speak with you.
Akím. She is a hard-working girl, and, so to speak, looking well after herself, so to speak. And, so, in our
