eyebrows are both twitching.... : The Meadows are yours, yes, yours. Do sit down. [ They sit ] We were wrong.
: I did it on principle. My land is worth little to me, but the principle... : Yes, the principle, just so. Now let’s talk of something else.
: The more so as I have evidence. My aunt’s grandmother gave the land to your father’s grandfather’s peasants... : Yes, yes, let that pass. [ aside ] I wish I knew how to get him started.
[ aloud ] Are you going to start shooting soon? : I’m thinking of having a go at the blackcock, honoured Natalya Stepanovna, after the harvest. Oh, have you heard? Just think, what a misfortune I’ve had!
My dog Guess, who you know, has gone lame. : What a pity! Why? : I don’t know.
Must have got his leg twisted or bitten by some other dog. [sighs] My very best dog, to say nothing of the expense. I gave Mironov roubles for him. : It was too much, Ivan Vassilevitch.
: I think it was very cheap. He’s a first-rate dog. : Papa gave roubles for his Squeezer, and Squeezer is heaps better than Guess! : Squeezer better than Guess?
What an idea! [ laughs ] Squeezer better than Guess! : Of course he’s better! Of course, Squeezer is young, he may develop a bit, but on points and pedigree he’s better than anything that even Volchanetsky has got.
: Excuse me, Natalya Stepanovna, but you forget that he is overshot, and an overshot always means the dog is a bad hunter! : Overshot, is he? The first time I hear it! : I assure you that his lower jaw is shorter than the upper.
: Have you measured? : Yes. He’s all right at following, of course, but if you want to get hold of anything... : In the first place, our Squeezer is a thoroughbred animal, the son of Harness and Chisels while there’s no getting at the pedigree of your dog at all.