People ask us to. If he is alive to-morrow, we will send for the priest.
Sponsor. It must be hard for you, Anísya! The proverb says not in vain: Not he who is ailing is sick, but he who watches over the ailment.
Anísya. If there were only an end to it!
Sponsor. Of course. It is no small matter to see him dying for a year. He has tied your hands.
Matréna. Bitter is a widow's lot. It is all right if she is young, but who will pity her in her old age? Old age is no joy. Look at me! I have walked but a short distance, and I am so tired that my feet are numb. Where is my son?
Anísya. He is ploughing. Come in. We shall have the samovár ready, and you will ease your heart with some tea.
Matréna (sits down). I am dreadfully tired, my dear ones. You must be sure and give him the extreme unction. People say it is good for the soul.
Anísya. Yes, we shall send for him to-morrow.
Matréna. It will be better so. We have had a wedding, my dear.
Sponsor. What, a wedding in spring?
Matréna. There is evidently good sense in the proverb: Night is too short for a poor man to marry. Semén Matvyéevich has married Marína.
Anísya. So she has found her happiness!
Sponsor. He is a widower, so she has married him for the children.
Matréna. There are four of them. What decent girl would marry him? So he has taken her. She is happy. We drank a glass,—you see it was not strong liquor,—because they poured it out for me.
Sponsor. I declare! Has he any means?
Matréna. So far they are getting on well.
Sponsor. That's so, who would want to marry a man
