A PARTY AT A POOR RELATION'S.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE:

Avdotya Alekseyevna Sukodavleva.
Pavel Vasilyich, her son.
Varvara Vasilyevna, her daughter.
Alexey Petrovich Pichugin, a young man, an insignificant official with no fortune.
Alexandra Semyonovna, his wife.
Tatyana Andreyevna Drozdova, wife of a deystvitelny statsky sovetnik Active State Councillor, a high-ranking civil service position, a lively lady in every respect; by origin from the merchant class.
Mikhailo Ivanych, her son, 20 years old, a fine young man.
Anyuta, his sister, 15 years old, a being not yet fully defined, but promising.

A modestly furnished living room with soft furniture upholstered in chintz; muslin drapes and flowers on the windows. In front of the sofa is a round table covered with a white tablecloth. In the pier between the windows is a dining table, on which a tea service is prepared and a samovar is boiling. Alexey Petrovich is sitting on the sofa. Alexandra Semyonovna is bustling about near the samovar.

Alexey Petrovich. Well, Sasha, will you give me tea soon?
Alexandra Semyonovna. Right away, right away, my friend.
Alexey Petrovich. Please, my joy, hurry up.
Alexandra Semyonovna. Where are you rushing to so much?.. What is this urgent business you have?..