NICHOLAS IVaNOVICH. Yes, Peter. [Exit, followed by Mary Ivanovna].

LYuBA [sits down in front of samovar] Will you have tea or coffee?

BORiS. I don't mind.

LYuBA. It's always the same, and I see no end to it!

BORiS. I don't understand him. I know the people are poor and ignorant and must be helped, but not by encouraging thieves.

LYuBA. But how?

BORiS. By our whole activity. By using all our knowledge in their service, but not by sacrificing one's own life.

LYuBA. And papa says, that that is just what is wanted.

BORiS. I don't understand. One can serve the people without ruining one's own life. That is the way I want to arrange my life. If only you ...

LYuBA. I want what you want, and am not afraid of anything.

BORiS. How about those earrings--that dress ...

LYuBA. The earrings can be sold and the dresses must be different, but one need not make oneself quite a guy.

BORiS. I should like to have another talk with him. Do you think I should disturb him if I followed him to the village?

LYuBA. Not at all. I see he has grown fond of you, and he addressed himself chiefly to you last night.

BORiS [finishes his coffee] Well, I'll go then.

LYuBA. Yes, do, and I'll go and wake Lisa and Tonya.

Curtain.

SCENE 2

Village street. Ivan Zyabrev, covered with a sheepskin coat, is lying near a hut.

IVaN ZYaBREV. Malashka!

A tiny girl comes out of the hut with a baby in her arms. The baby is crying.

IVaN ZYaBREV. Get me a drink of water.

Malashka goes back into the hut, from where the baby can be heard screaming. She brings a bowl of water.

IVaN ZYaBREV. Why do you always beat the youngster and make him howl?

I'll tell mother.

MALaSHKA. Tell her then. It's hunger makes him howl!

IVaN ZYaBREV [drinks] You should go and ask the Demkins for some milk.

MALaSHKA. I went, but there wasn't any. And there was no one at home.

IVaN ZYaBREV. Oh! if only I could die! Have they rung for dinner?

MALaSHKA. They have. Here's the master coming.

Enter Nicholas Ivanovich.

NICHOLAS IVaNOVICH. Why have you come out here?

IVaN ZYaBREV. Too many flies in there, and it's too hot.

NICHOLAS IVaNOVICH. Then you're warm now?

IVaN ZYaBREV. Yes, now I'm burning all over.

NICHOLAS IVaNOVICH. And where is Peter? Is he at home?

IVaN ZYaBREV. At home, at this time? Why, he's gone to the field to cart the corn.

NICHOLAS IVaNOVICH. And I hear that they want to put him in prison.

IVaN ZYaBREV. That's so, the Policeman has gone to the field for him.

Enter a pregnant Woman, carrying a sheaf of oats and a rake. She immediately hits Malashka on the back of the head.

WOMAN. What d'you mean by leaving the baby? Don't you hear him howling!

Running about the streets is all _you_ know.

MALaSHKA [howling] I've only just come out. Daddy wanted a drink.

WOMAN. I'll give it you. [She sees the land-owner, N. I. Sarntsov]

Good-day, sir. Children are a trouble! I'm quite done up, everything on my shoulders, and now they're taking our only worker to prison, and this lout is sprawling about here.

NICHOLAS IVaNOVICH. What are you saying? He's quite ill!

WOMAN. He's ill, and what about me? Am I not ill? When it's work, he's ill; but to merry-make or pull my hair out, he's not too ill. Let him die like a hound! What do I care?

NICHOLAS IVaNOVICH. How can you say such wicked things?

WOMAN. I know it's a sin; but I can't subdue my heart. I'm expecting another child, and I have to work for two. Other people have their harvest in already, and we have not mowed a quarter of our oats yet. I ought to finish binding the sheaves, but can't. I had to come and see what the children were about.

NICHOLAS IVaNOVICH. The oats shall be cut--I'll hire someone, and to bind the sheaves too.

WOMAN. Oh, binding's nothing. I can do that myself, if it's only mown down quick. What d'you think, Nicholas Ivanovich, will he die? He is very ill!