The Contemporary (Sovremennik)

Alexandra Semyonovna. Why did you not say so, aunt; perhaps my uncle would have come to us as well...

Tatyana Andrevna. To hell with him!.. Where would he go!.. Have you not seen that ugly mug of his!.. He sits at home, and if he wants to, he will find a place without our company...

Alexandra Semyonovna (smiles). Ah, aunt...

Tatyana Andrevna. Indeed... I am sick of the wretch to death...

Alexandra Semyonovna. Ah, aunt... What is she saying!

Tatyana Andrevna. It is nothing, my angel, nothing... You will live a while longer, and you will say the same... It is only at first that you cannot take your eyes off your husband... Just wait, you will live a while longer, and you will say the same...

Mikhailo Ivanych. You see, cousin... Here is an example for you: my maman mother is a modern, emancipated woman liberated from traditional constraints... She takes her women's rights political and social equality for women by force...

Tatyana Andrevna. What?.. What kind?.. What are you? Who asked you to speak about your mother?.. Would you like me to pull you by the ears?.. Do you think I would not dare? eh?.. (She approaches Mikhailo Ivanych and takes him by the ears with both hands).

Mikhailo Ivanych (trying to free himself). Mother, stop it: you will mess up all my hair...

Tatyana Andrevna. Ah, you rascal, are you scared?.. Say: are you guilty or not? Well, say that you are guilty... Or I shall mess up all your curls... Well, say, guilty...

Mikhailo Ivanych. Well, alright... guilty...

Tatyana Andrevna. That is better... Now, kiss my hand... (Mikhailo Ivanych kisses her hand lazily). Not like that, kiss firmer and more affectionately... (Mikhailo Ivanych kisses her again). Well, that is it... That is how you must be taught... Oh, you angel, angel! (She kisses him several times in a row). My handsome boy, my dear... Sasha, look at what a handsome boy he is... eh?.. He is nice, is he not?.. Well, say that he is nice... Can it be that he is not nice?..

Alexandra Semyonovna. Who could say otherwise?.. My cousin male cousin is a very handsome man...

Tatyana Andrevna. What kind of man is he... He is just a boy... Why are you angry?.. When you turn thirty, then you will be a man... but now you are still a boy... And yet he is in love, he is in love... I swear to God, he is in love... with you, Sasha... I swear