Akím (takes it, shaking his head). Oh, the liquor! You are not a man, so to speak—
Nikíta. This is better. If you give it back to me it will be well; if not, God be with you! That's my way! (Seeing Akulína.) Akulína, show your presents!
Akulína. What?
Nikíta. Show your presents!
Akulína. The presents? What is the use of showing them? I have put them away.
Nikíta. Get them out, I say! Anyútka likes to see them. Show them, I say, to Anyútka! Open up the shawl! Give it to me!
Akím. Oh, it makes me feel bad to look at him. (Climbing on the oven.)
Akulína (taking out her things and putting them on the table). Here they are. What is there to look at?
Anyútka. Oh, how nice they are! This is not worse than Stepanídina's.
Akulína. Stepanídina's? Stepanídina's does not come up to this. (Becoming more animated and opening the shawl.) Look at it! See what quality it is: it is of French make.
Anyútka. And what pretty chintz! Mashútka has one like it, only hers is lighter, on an azure field. This one is so nice!
Nikíta. That's it. (Anísya goes angrily into the storeroom and returns with the samovár pipe and tablecloth, and walks over to the table.)
Anísya. How you have scattered things here!
Nikíta. Look here!
Anísya. What am I to look at? I have seen such things before. Take them away! (Brushes the shawl down on the floor.)
Akulína. Don't throw about things like that! Throw your own things! (Picks it up.)
Nikíta. Anísya, look out!
