Anton Chekhov

“ He has failed in his examinations ! Oh, misery me ! Can you believe it, he has failed ! I can't punish him myself on account of being so weak and in bad health, so do thrash him for me ! Be kind, be chivalrous and do it for me, Mr. Kuporosoff ! Have mercy on a sick woman!"
Kuporosoff frowned and heaved a very deep sigh through his nostrils. He reflected, drummed on the table with his fingers, sighed once more, and went into Vania's room.
"Look here!" he began his harangue. "Your parents are trying to educate you, aren't they, and give you a start in life, you miserable young man ? ”

“ You have worn me as thin as a rail, you monster, you thorn in my flesh, you wicked burden on your parents ! I have wept for you, I have broken my back working for you, you worthless trifler, and what is my reward . Have you learned a thing ? "
"I—I study—all night—you see that yourself—"
"I have prayed God to send death to deliver me, poor sinner, but death will not come. You bane of my existence ! ”

“ You bane of my existence ! " exclaimed Vania's mother.
"Why do you abuse him?" the boy's aunt scolded the mother, nervously pulling off the coffee-coloured kerchief she wore on her head. "How is he to blame? It is your fault ! Yours ! Why did you send him to that school? What sort of lady are you? Do you want to climb up among the gentlefolk ? Aha ! You will certainly get there at this rate ! If you had done as I told you, you would have put him into business as I did my Kuzia. There's Kuzia now making five hundred roubles a year. ”