On Going to Law + 

A Peasant + 

His Wife + 

A Kinswoman + 

Fedia, the peasant’s son, a lad of nineteen + 

Petka, another son, a boy of nine + 

Father + 

Entering the cottage and taking off his cloak. What beastly weather! I could hardly manage to get home. + 

Mother + 

And such a long way for you. It must be nearly fifteen miles. + 

Father + 

Not less than twenty, I can tell you. To his son, Fedia. Take the colt to the stable. + 

Mother + 

Well, have we won? + 

Peasant + 

We have not, damn it all. It will never come right. + 

Kinswoman + 

But what is it all about, cousin? I don’t quite understand. + 

Peasant + 

It is simply that Averian has taken possession of my vegetable garden and is holding it. And I can’t get at him in the right way. + 

Wife + 

That lawsuit has been dragging along over a year now. + 

Kinswoman + 

I know, I know. I remember as far back as Lent, when the matter was before the village court. My man told me it had been settled in your favour. + 

Peasant + 

That finished it, didn’t it? But Averian appealed to the head of the Zemstvo, and he had the whole business gone into again. I then appealed to the judge and won. That ought to have been the end of it. But it wasn’t. After that he won. Nice sort of judges they are! + 

Wife + 

What are we to do now? + 

Peasant + 

I won’t stand his having my property. I will appeal to the higher court, I have already had a talk with a lawyer. + 

Kinswoman + 

But suppose they take his side in the upper court? + 

Peasant + 

Then I’ll go to the Supreme Court. I’ll sell my last cow before I’ll give in to that fat hound. I’ll teach him a lesson. + 

Kinswoman + 

A lot of trouble comes from these trials, a lot of trouble, I declare! And suppose he wins again? + 

Peasant + 

Then I’ll appeal to the Tsar. Now I had better go out and give the pony some hay. Exit. + 

Petka + 

Why do they judge like that, some saying Averian is right and some daddy? + 

Mother + 

Probably because they don’t know who is right themselves. + 

Petka + 

Then why ask them, if they don’t know? + 

Mother + 

Because nobody wants to give up his property. + 

Petka + 

When I grow up, I will do like this: If I have a dispute with somebody, we will cast lots and see who wins. And that will settle it. We always settle it this way with Akulika. + 

Kinswoman + 

Don’t you think, cousin, that is quite a good way? One sin less, anyhow. + 

Mother + 

Quite so. What a lot we have spent on that trial! More than the whole vegetable garden is worth. Oh, it is a sin, a great sin! + 