Plays by Aleksandr Nikolaevich Ostrovsky Part 14

MADAM ULANBeKOV. Don't strike her! What disgusting scenes!

POTaPYCH. But, mistress! You can't get results by talking! Besides, if I'm her father, that's the regular thing! That's the law, and according to that, since she is rebelling against you now, I ought to give you that satisfaction.

NaDYA. [_Weeping_] Mistress, don't ruin me!

MADAM ULANBeKOV. Oh, my G.o.d! You don't spare me at all. Tears, squabblings!

Send for the doctor at once! How many times have I got to say it? It's your own fault, you've n.o.body to blame for your tears. Potapych! get this business over with! I don't like to repeat the same thing ten times over.

_She goes out,_ GAVRiLOVNA _after her. Silence_. GAVRiLOVNA _returns_.

GAVRiLOVNA. She's gone to bed, and banged the door behind her.

POTaPYCH. [_At the window_] Antoshka! Antoshka! Post boy! Saddle the horse and ride to town for the doctor. Oh, you! Lord!

NaDYA. [_Rising from her knees_] Don't you think it's a sin for you to abuse me, Potapych? What have I ever done to you?

POTaPYCH. What do I care? What do I care about you? When the mistress really wants something, I have to try to please her in every way; because I was born her servant.

NaDYA. If she had commanded you to kill me, would you have done it?

POTaPYCH. That's not my affair, I can't argue about that.

GAVRiLOVNA. That's enough, Nadya, don't cry! G.o.d doesn't abandon orphans.

NaDYA _falls upon_ GAVRiLOVNA'S _bosom_.

LiZA. [_To_ VASILiSA PEREGRiNOVNA] Well, is your heart content now?

VASILiSA PEREGRiNOVNA. Wait, my dear, your turn will come.

LEONiD _enters_.

SCENE V

_The same and_ LEONiD

LEONiD. What's this? What has happened?

VASILiSA PEREGRiNOVNA. You made all the trouble yourself, and then ask what has happened.

LEONiD. What trouble did I make? What are you continually thinking up?

VASILiSA PEREGRiNOVNA. Now, don't pretend! The whole truth has come out.

You've been having a little fun. What of it? At your age, why shouldn't you have?

LiZA. She's reported the whole thing to the mistress. The mistress got so angry that it was awful! And now, sir, she is going to marry Nadya to that government clerk.

LEONiD. Are you sure?

NaDYA. The thing's settled, dearest master! I have to answer for last evening's sport.

LEONiD. Is mamma very angry?

GAVRiLOVNA. No one dares go near her.

LEONiD. But how can that be? Isn't it possible to talk her over somehow or other?

GAVRiLOVNA. Just go and try. No, she won't come out of her room now for five days; and she won't let any one at all see her there.

VASILiSA PEREGRiNOVNA. Do you want to talk your mamma over?

LEONiD. Yes.

VASILiSA PEREGRiNOVNA. Do you want me to tell you how?

LEONiD. Please be so kind, Vasilisa Peregrinovna.

VASILiSA PEREGRiNOVNA. Well, permit me. Our benefactress is very much hurt at Grisha, because he didn't spend the night at home: he came in drunk, and didn't even ask forgiveness nor kiss her hand. It was this vexation that made her sick. And then this Nadezhda happened to come her way when she was angry. Now our benefactress won't even come out of her room, and won't allow any one to go to her, so long as that stubborn Grisha doesn't beg forgiveness.

GAVRiLOVNA. How contrarily everything happened! Grisha will keep up his character, too. Although he is a blockhead, he has some sense. Now he'll flop down on the hay and he'll lie there on his belly for four days.

POTaPYCH. Somebody ought to take Uncle Gerasim's club and dress him down from top to toe.

VASILiSA PEREGRiNOVNA. Now, our dear master, wouldn't you like to go present your compliments to him, in order that he might hurry up and ask your mamma's forgiveness?

LEONiD. [_Upon reflection_] That would be too great an honor for him. But see here, Gavrilovna, is mamma actually very angry?

GAVRiLOVNA. So angry, sir, that it's terrible!

LEONiD. Well, what's to be done now!

NaDYA. Why are you bothering? You see, there's nothing you can do: better leave me! Now you'll soon go away to Petersburg; you will be happy: why should you think about such trifles, or disturb yourself?

LEONiD. Why, you see, I'm sorry for you!

NaDYA. Don't be sorry, if you please! I ran to my own destruction of my own free will, like a mad girl, without once stopping to think.

LEONiD. What are you planning to do now?

NaDYA. That's my business.

LEONiD. But, you see, it's going to be very hard for you.

NaDYA. What business is it of yours? It will be all the happier for you.