Without a dowry / Бесприданница. Книга для чтения на английском языке

What made you think of visiting us?

Knurov. I walk about a lot before dinner, so I just dropped in.

Mme Ogudalov. You can rest assured, Moky Parmenych, that we consider your visit a special stroke of good fortune. I just can’t compare it with anything.

Knurov. So you’re marrying off Larisa Dmitriyevna?

Mme Ogudalov. Yes, she’s getting married, Moky Parmenych.

Knurov. There was a groom who’d take her without money?

Mme Ogudalov. Without money, Moky Parmenych. Where do you think we could get any money?

Knurov.

Mme Ogudalov. What means! He has very little!

Knurov. I see… And how do you feel, do you think you’re doing the right thing to marry off Larisa Dmitriyevna to a poor man?

Mme Ogudalov. I don’t know, Moky Parmenych. I didn’t have anything to do with it, it was her choice.

Knurov. Well, and this young man, what about him? Do you think he’s doing the right thing?

Mme Ogudalov.

Knurov. There’s nothing praiseworthy about it; on the contrary it’s blameworthy. To be sure, from his point of view he’s not being stupid. What is he, who knows him, who’s paid any attention to him! But now the whole town’ll start talking about him, he’s climbing into the best society, he allows himself to invite me to dinner, for example. But here’s the stupid part. He didn’t think or didn’t want to think about how and on what means he’s going to live with such a wife.

Mme Ogudalov. Be so kind, Moky Parmenych!

Knurov. What opinion do you have of your daughter? What’s she like?

Mme Ogudalov. I really don’t know what to say. About all I can do is listen to you.

Knurov. You know as well as I there’s none of that commonness in Larisa Dmitriyevna, none of that everyday stuff. Well, you know what I mean, none of the petty triviality you need for a family living in poverty.

Mme Ogudalov. There’s none of that, none.

Knurov. You could call her an ethereal creature.

Mme Ogudalov. An ethereal creature, Moky Parmenych.

Knurov. She was created for splendor.

Mme Ogudalov. For splendor, Moky Parmenych.

Knurov. And can your Karandyshov give her that splendor?

Mme Ogudalov. No, how could he!

Knurov. She won’t be able to endure life when it’s poor and common.