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AkoulĆ­na. Whereā€™s the concertina? AkoulĆ­na The concertina? Heā€™s bethought himself of it. Why, you took it to be mended. Iā€™ve poured out your tea. Drink it! NikĆ­ta I donā€™t want it! Put out the lightā ā€Šā ā€¦ Oh, how dull I feel, how dull! Sobs.

Curtain.

Act IV

Autumn. Evening. The moon is shining. The stage represents the interior of courtyard. The scenery at the back shows, in the middle, the back porch of the hut. To the right the winter half of the hut and the gate; to the left the summer half and the cellar. To the right of the stage is a shed. The sound of tipsy voices and shouts are heard from the hut.5 Second Neighbour Woman comes out of the hut and beckons to First Neighbour Woman.

Second Neighbour Howā€™s it AkoulĆ­na has not shown herself? First Neighbour Why hasnā€™t she shown herself? Sheā€™d have been glad to; but sheā€™s too ill, you know. The suitorā€™s relatives have come, and want to see the girl; and she, my dear, sheā€™s lying in the cold hut and canā€™t come out, poor thing! Second Neighbour But howā€™s that? First Neighbour They say sheā€™s been bewitched by an evil eye! Sheā€™s got pains in the stomach! Second Neighbour You donā€™t say so? First Neighbour What else could it be? Whispers. Second Neighbour Dear me! Thereā€™s a go! But his relatives will surely find it out? First Neighbour They find it out! Theyā€™re all drunk! Besides, they are chiefly after her dowry. Just think what they give with the girl! Two furs, my dear, six dresses, a French shawl, and I donā€™t know how many pieces of linen, and money as wellā ā€”two hundred roubles, itā€™s said! Second Neighbour Thatā€™s all very well, but even money canā€™t give much pleasure in the face of such a disgrace. First Neighbour Hush!ā ā€Šā ā€¦ Thereā€™s his father, I think. They cease talking, and go into the hut. The Suitorā€™s Father comes out of the hut hiccuping. The Father Oh, Iā€™m all in a sweat. Itā€™s awfully hot! Will just cool myself a bit. Stands puffing. The Lord only knows whatā ā€”something is not right. I canā€™t feel happy.ā ā€”Well, itā€™s the old womanā€™s affair. Enter MatryĆ³na from hut. MatryĆ³na And I was just thinking, whereā€™s the father? Whereā€™s the father? And here you are, dear friend.ā ā€Šā ā€¦ Well, dear friend, the Lord be thanked! Everything is as honourable as can be! When oneā€™s arranging a match one should not boast. And I have never learnt to boast. But as youā€™ve come about the right business, so with the Lordā€™s help, youā€™ll be grateful to me all your life! Sheā€™s a wonderful girl! Thereā€™s no other like her in all the district! The Father Thatā€™s true enough, but how about the money? MatryĆ³na Donā€™t you trouble about the money! All she had from her father goes with her. And itā€™s more than one gets easily, as things are nowadays. Three times fifty roubles! The Father We donā€™t complain, but itā€™s for our own child. Naturally we want to get the best we can. MatryĆ³na Iā€™ll tell you straight, friend: if it hadnā€™t been for me, youā€™d never have found anything like her! Theyā€™ve had an offer from the KarmĆ­lins, but I stood out against it. And as for the money, Iā€™ll tell you truly: when her father, God be merciful to his soul, was dying, he gave orders that the widow should take NikĆ­ta into the homesteadā ā€”of course I know all about it from my sonā ā€”and the money was to go to AkoulĆ­na. Why, another one might have thought of his own interests, but NikĆ­ta gives everything clean! Itā€™s no trifle. Fancy what a sum it is! The Father People are saying, that more money was left her? The ladā€™s sharp too! MatryĆ³na Oh, dear soul alive! A slice in anotherā€™s hand always looks big; all she had will be handed over. I tell you, throw doubts to the wind and make all sure! What a girl she is! as fresh as a daisy! The Father Thatā€™s so. But my old woman and I were only wondering about the girl; why has she not come out? Weā€™ve been thinking, suppose sheā€™s sickly? MatryĆ³na Oh, ah.ā ā€Šā ā€¦ Who? She? Sickly? Why, thereā€™s none to compare with her in the district. The girlā€™s as sound as a bell; you canā€™t pinch her. But you saw her the other day! And as for work, sheā€™s wonderful! Sheā€™s a bit deaf, thatā€™s true, but there are spots on the sun, you know. And her not coming out, you see, itā€™s from an evil eye! A spellā€™s been cast on her! And I know the bitch whoā€™s done the business! They know of the betrothal and they bewitched her. But I know a counter-spell. The girl will get up tomorrow. Donā€™t you worry about the girl! The Father Well, of course, the thingā€™s settled. MatryĆ³na Yes, of course! Donā€™t you turn back. And donā€™t forget me, Iā€™ve had a lot of trouble. Donā€™t forgetā ā€Šā ā€¦ A womanā€™s voice from the hut. Voice If we are to go, letā€™s go. Come along, IvĆ”n! The Father Iā€™m coming. Exeunt. Guests crowd together in the passage and prepare to go away. Nan Runs out of the hut and calls to AnĆ­sya. Mother! AnĆ­sya From inside. What dā€™you want? Nan Mother, come here, or theyā€™ll hear. AnĆ­sya enters and they go together to the shed. AnĆ­sya Well? What is it? Whereā€™s AkoulĆ­na? Nan Sheā€™s gone into the barn. Itā€™s awful whatā€™s sheā€™s doing there! Iā€™m blest! ā€œI canā€™t bear it,ā€ she says. ā€œIā€™ll scream,ā€ she says, ā€œIā€™ll scream out loud.ā€ Blest if she didnā€™t. AnĆ­sya Sheā€™ll have to wait. Weā€™ll see our visitors off first. Nan Oh mother! Sheā€™s so bad! And sheā€™s angry too. ā€œWhatā€™s the good of their drinking my health?ā€ she says. ā€œI shanā€™t marry,ā€ she says. ā€œI shall die,ā€ she says. Mother, supposing she does die! Itā€™s awful. Iā€™m so frightened! AnĆ­sya No fear, sheā€™ll not die. But donā€™t you go near her. Come along. Exit
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