MIEDVIEDIEFF. Meaning--he's getting along--?
BUBNOFF. Why shouldn't he? He's able to get along all right.
MIEDVIEDIEFF [_doubtfully_] Why shouldn't he? [_Luka goes into
hallway, carrying a pail_] M-yes--there's a lot of talk about Vaska.
Haven't you heard?
BUBNOFF. I hear all sorts of gossip . . .
MIEDVIEDIEFF. There seems to have been some sort of talk concerning
Vassilisa. Haven't you heard about it?
BUBNOFF. What?
MIEDVIEDIEFF. Oh--why--generally speaking. Perhaps you know--and lie.
Everybody knows--[_Severely_] You mustn't lie, brother!
BUBNOFF. Why should I lie?
MIEDVIEDIEFF. That's right. Dogs! They say that Vaska and Vassilisa
. . . but what's that to me? I'm not her father. I'm her uncle. Why
should they ridicule me? [_Kvashnya comes in_] What are people coming
to? They laugh at everything. Aha--you here?
KVASHNYA. Well--my love-sick garrison--? Bubnoff! He came up to me
again on the marketplace and started pestering me about marrying
him . . .
BUBNOFF. Go to it! Why not? He has money and he's still a husky
fellow.
MIEDVIEDIEFF. Me--? I should say so!
KVASHNYA. You ruffian! Don't you dare touch my sore spot! I've gone
through it once already, darling. Marriage to a woman is just like
jumping through a hole in the ice in winter. You do it once, and you
remember it the rest of your life . . .
MIEDVIEDIEFF. Wait! There are different breeds of husbands . . .
KVASHNYA. But there's only one of me! When my beloved husband kicked
the bucket, I spent the whole day all by my lonely--just bursting with
joy. I sat and simply couldn't believe it was true. . . .
MIEDVIEDIEFF. If your husband beat you without cause, you should have
complained to the police.
KVASHNYA. I complained to God for eight years--and he didn't help.
MIEDVIEDIEFF. Nowadays the law forbids to beat your wife . . . all is
very strict these days--there's law and order everywhere. You can't
beat up people without due cause. If you beat them to maintain
discipline--all right . . .
LUKA [_comes in with Anna_] Well--we finally managed to get here after
all. Oh, you! Why do you, weak as you are, walk about alone? Where's
your bunk?
ANNA [_pointing_] Thank you, grand-dad.
KVASHNYA. There--she's married--look at her!
LUKA. The little woman is in very bad shape . . . she was creeping
along the hallway, clinging to the wall and moaning--why do you leave
her by herself?
KVASHNYA. Oh, pure carelessness on our part, little father--forgive
us! Her maid, it appears, went out for a walk . . .
LUKA. Go on--poke fun at me . . . but, all the same, how can you
neglect a human being like that? No matter who or what, every human
life has its worth . . .
MIEDVIEDIEFF. There should be supervision! Suppose she died
suddenly--? That would cause a lot of bother . . . we must look after
her!
LUKA. True, sergeant!
MIEDVIEDIEFF. Well--yes--though I'm not a sergeant--ah--yet!
LUKA. No! But you carry yourself most martially!
[_Noise of shuffling feet is heard in the hallway. Muffled cries._]
MIEDVIEDIEFF. What now--a row?
BUBNOFF. Sounds like it?
KVASHNYA. I'll go and see . . .
MIEDVIEDIEFF. I'll go, too. It is my duty! Why separate people when
they fight? They'll stop sooner or later of their own accord. One gets
tired of fighting. Why not let them fight all they want to--freely?
They wouldn't fight half as often--if they'd remember former
beatings . . .
BUBNOFF [_climbing down from his bunk_] Why don't you speak to your
superiors about it?
KOSTILYOFF [_throws open the door and shouts_] Abram! Come
quick--Vassilisa is killing Natasha--come quick!
[_Kvashnya, Miedviedieff, and Bubnoff rush into hallway; Luka looks
after them, shaking his head._]
ANNA. Oh God--poor little Natasha . . .
LUKA. Who's fighting out there?
ANNA. Our landladies--they're sisters . . .
LUKA [_crossing to Anna_] Why?
ANNA. Oh--for no reason--except that they're both fat and healthy
. . .
LUKA. What's your name?
ANNA. Anna . . . I look at you . . . you're like my father--my dear
father . . . you're as gentle as he was--and as soft. . . .
LUKA. Soft! Yes! They pounded me till I got soft! [_Laughs
tremulously_]