Nicola thinks Louka is being irrational, acting in ways that undermine her personal goals. He sees that she aspires to climb the social ladder. She is interested in marrying her way into a higher social position. But she lets her rebelliousness and dissatisfaction show in ways that will turn off aristocrats and gentlefolk.
By being openly rude to Nicola ("sharp and impudent"), she doesn't give the impression that she is his social superior. On the...
Nicola thinks Louka is being irrational, acting in ways that undermine her personal goals. He sees that she aspires to climb the social ladder. She is interested in marrying her way into a higher social position. But she lets her rebelliousness and dissatisfaction show in ways that will turn off aristocrats and gentlefolk.
By being openly rude to Nicola ("sharp and impudent"), she doesn't give the impression that she is his social superior. On the contrary, she creates the appearance that she is on intimate terms with her fellow servant. We don't usually take such liberties with people unless we're close to them:
"[I]mpudence is a sort of familiarity: it shews affection for me…"
If Louka really aspires to become a lady, she needs to act like a lady -- someone who takes it for granted that she will be obeyed by inferiors:
"Act as if you expected to have your own way, not as if you expected to be ordered about."
Perhaps the most foolish aspect of Louka's behavior is that she has failed to appreciate how Nicola and his advice can benefit her. He was the one who showed her how to groom herself like a lady. When he points this out, she responds with disdain ("She tosses her head defiantly…") and he says:
"I've often thought that if Raina were out of the way, and you just a little less of a fool and Sergius just a little more of one, you might come to be one of my grandest customers, instead of only being my wife and costing me money."
So Nicola implies that Louka has misread his motives, and she is being a fool to reject his advice. He's trying to help her. She's letting her emotions cloud her judgment. He says he'll stand by her, and then proves it by "talking up" Louka to Sergius, hinting that the young woman is well-educated (an attainment that would make her a more acceptable marriage prospect):
NICOLA [in a smooth, elderly manner] Oh no, sir: thank you kindly. I was only speaking to this foolish girl about her habit of running up here to the library whenever she gets a chance, to look at the books. That's the worst of her education, sir: it gives her habits above her station.
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