well ,there! it's you, and papa said, "Go; there's a merchant come for his goods." How do you do, Ivan Vassilevitch.
how do you do, honoured Natalya Stepanovna?
You must excuse my apron and neglige. we're shelling peas for drying. why haven't you been here for such a long time? sit down.....
wont you have some lunch?
no thank you , I've had some already.
Then smoke. Here are the matches. The weather is splendid now, but yesterday it was so wet that the workmen didn't do anything all day. How much hay have you stacked? just think, I felt greedy and had a whole field cut, and now I'm not at all pleased about it because I'm afraid my hay may rot.
I ought to have waited a bit. But what's this? Why you're in evening dress! Well, I never! Are you going to a ball or what? Though i must say you look better...Tell me, why are you got up like that?
I shall try to be brief. You must know, honoured NatalyaStepanovna, that I have long, since my childhood, in fact,147 The Proposalhad the privilege of knowing your family. My late auntand her husband, from whom, as you know, I inheritedmy land, always had the greatest respect for your fatherand your late mother.
what's the matter? well?
You see, honoured Natalya Stepanovna...the fact is, I've made up my mind to ask you to hear me out.. Of course you'll be surprised and perhaps even angry, but a ...it's awfully cold!
The Lomovs and the Chubukovshave always had the most friendly, and I might almostsay the most affectionate, regard for each other. And, asyou know, my land is a near neighbour of yours. You willremember that my Oxen Meadows touch your birchwoods.