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MARY IVÁNOVNA. But nowadays everything seems savage and stupid to you.
After all, he must live; you lived!
NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH [getting irritable] I lived when I did not
understand; and when nobody gave me good advice. However, it does not
depend on me but on him.
MARY IVÁNOVNA. How not on you? It's you who don't give him an allowance.
NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. I can't give what is not mine!
MARY IVÁNOVNA. Not yours? What do you mean?
NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. The labour of others does not belong to me. To give
him money, I must first take it from others. I have no right to do that,
and I cannot do it! As long as I manage the estate I must manage it as
my conscience dictates; and I cannot give the fruits of the toil of the
overworked peasants to be spent on the debaucheries of Life-Guardsmen.
Take over my property, and then I shall not be responsible!
MARY IVÁNOVNA. You know very well that I don't want to take it, and
moreover I can't. I have to bring up the children, besides nursing them
and bearing them. It is cruel!
NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. Mary, dear one! That is not the main thing. When you
began to speak I too began and wanted to talk to you quite frankly. We
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