i know i often do say things which will be better left unsaid, but you must agree with me dear, she'llbetter off in the country somewhere. she's been with us for 30 years. but she can't work anymore, can she? well, either i don't understand you or you don't want to understand me. she can't work. she just sleeps or sits about. well, let her sit about. what do you mean let her sit about, she's a servant. well, i don't understand you olya. i have a nurse for the children and a wet nurse. we share a cook and a maid, whatever do we want this old woman for? what for? i have aged 10 years tonight. we must sort this out olya. you're working at school, i'm working at home. you're teaching. i'm running the house and when i say anything about the servants i know what i'm talking about and that old thief, that old witch must get out of this house tomorrow. how dare you vex me so, how dare you. really, if you don't move downstairs we shall always be quarreling. this is quite dreadful. where's masha? well, it's time we went home. they say the fire's getting less spirit. you know, only one block got