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He came home to see his folks. Why, it’s ten years since he left. He was a mere boy then.
A lot he cares for his folks. Yegor Ivanovich is just dying to get rid of him. The neighbors don’t know what to make of him either. He dresses like a workingman and carries himself like a lord, doesn’t speak to anybody and just rolls his eyes like a saint. I am afraid of his eyes.
Nonsense. He has beautiful eyes.
Can’t he see that it’s hard for me to be doing all the housework myself? A while ago he saw me carrying a pail full of water. I was straining with all my might. He didn’t even say good morning; just, passed on. I have met a lot of people in my life, but never anybody whom I disliked so much.
I’m so hot, everything seems to be turning round like wheels. Listen, Polya, if you don’t want to work, don’t. No one compels you to.
If I won’t work, who will? Will you?
No, I won’t. We’ll hire a servant.
Yes, of course, you have plenty of money.
And what’s the use of keeping it?
I’ll die soon and then you’ll get a servant. I won’t last much longer. I have had one miscarriage, and I guess a second child will be the end of me. I don’t care. It’s better than to live the way I do. Oh! (She clasps her waist)
But for God’s sake, who is asking you to? Stop working. Don’t scrub.
Yes, stop it, and all of you will be going about saying: “How dirty the house is!”
LIPA (weary from the heat and Pelagueya’s talk)
Oh, I’m so tired of it!
Don’t you think I feel tired too? What are you complaining about anyhow? You are a lady. All you have to do is pray and read. I don’t even get time to pray. Some day I’ll drop into the next world all of a sudden just as I am, with my skirt tucked up under my belt: “Good morning! How d’you do!”
You’ll be scrubbing floors in the next world too.
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