THE LIVE CORPSE

ACT I

SCENE 1

Protásov's[1] flat in Moscow. The scene represents a small

dining-room.

[1] Protásov is his family name, but the name by which he is usually

addressed is Fédya, an abbreviation of his Christian name--Theodore.

The ceremonious form of address would be Theodore Vasílyevich.

Anna Pávlovna, a stout grey-haired lady, tightly laced, is sitting

alone at the tea-table on which is a samovár. Enter nurse, carrying

a teapot.

NURSE. May I have a little hot water, ma'am?

ANNA PÁVLOVNA. Yes. How's Baby?

NURSE. He's restless.... There's nothing worse than for a lady to nurse

her baby herself! She has her troubles, and the child must suffer. What

can her milk be like, when she lies awake crying all night?

The Live Corpse