The Contemporary (Sovremennik)

bourgeois ignorance of social graces... But listen, to what trifles a man of society is not free... For example, when I sit on a chair in society, I must even think about how to place or position my foot... No, cousin, it is also a kind of bragging and even a disrespect for public opinion to shun society and free oneself from fulfilling the conditions of social life... In my opinion, every citizen must belong to society and respect its laws... otherwise he has no right to consider himself a citizen... Well, tell me, what do you think about this, ma belle cousine my beautiful cousin?..

ALEXANDRA SEMYONOVNA (with a smile). Of course, everyone serves society in their own way...

MIKHAILO IVANYCH. Yes, yes, cousin... Do not laugh: I am fully convinced that a man of society also performs a service just because he is a man of society and lives in society... And you, dear cousin, are very guilty before society for hiding from it... Well now, and what of your relative, is she, in truth, pretty?..

ALEXANDRA SEMYONOVNA. That is a matter of taste... But she is a very wealthy bride...

MIKHAILO IVANYCH. Ah... that is interesting... We shall occupy ourselves with her... Only take care, cousin, not to be jealous...

A bell rings, and following them enter TATYANA ANDREVNA, powdered and rouged, and her daughter ANETA.

TATYANA ANDREVNA (to Alexandra Semyonovna). Hello, my little angel, hello... (they kiss).

Aneta also kisses Alexandra Semyonovna.

TATYANA ANDREVNA. Forgive me for being late. I intended to arrive earlier, but I battled with my faithful husband... He has become tiresome... Where are you going? And what business is it of yours: wherever I want to go, I shall go... Am I to ask your permission?.. And why are you taking your daughter with you?.. Am I not her mother... Wherever I wanted, I went... I wanted to go alone, I went alone; I wanted to take my daughter, I took my daughter... Do not dare, he says, to take your daughter with you... I do not allow it... Well, such things happen, though rarely, that it is not done my way, but yours... Well, and we battled... He jumped about, he jumped about, and was left with the same result... And I left, and took my daughter, and did not say where I was going...