Page:Complete Works of Count Tolstoy - 18.djvu/278

. Let us go back to the house. Baroness, if you please.

(pulling Leonid Fédorovich's sleeve and stopping him). How many times have I told you not to give orders in the house! You know only your foolishness, and the house is on my shoulders. You will infect everybody.

. Who? What? I do not understand a word.

. You ask? People sick with diphtheria sleep in the kitchen, where there is a constant intercourse with the house!

. I—

. What I?

. I do not know anything.

. You ought to know, since you are the father of a family. You ought not to do this.

. I did not think— I thought—

. It makes me sick to listen to you!

(to Fédor Iványch). Out with them this very minute! Let them not be in my kitchen! This is terrible. Nobody obeys me! Everything against me— I drive them away from one place, and they let them in here. (Becomes ever more agitated until tears appear.) Everything to spite me! Everything to spite