Plays by Aleksandr Nikolaevich Ostrovsky Part 30

LYUBoV GORDeYEVNA. Don't, Mitya! Why should I deceive you? Why? I fell in love with you; so I told you, myself. But now we must not go against the will of our parents. For it is the will of my father that I should marry; I must submit to him--that is a girl's lot. It must be that that's the right thing since it was so ordained of old. I don't want to go against my father; I don't wish people to talk about me and make an example of me.

Although it may be I have broken my heart because of this--at any rate I know that I am acting according to law; no one will dare to look me in the face and jeer. Good-by! [_They kiss_]

MiTYA. Well, now I know my fate! [_LYUBoV GORDeYEVNA seats herself on the sofa and weeps_] Good-by! [_Bows to PELAGeYA EGoROVNA_] Good-by, Pelageya Egorovna, you have been my benefactress! So long as I live I shall not forget your goodness and kindness to me; you did not forget the orphan in a strange land.

PELAGeYA EGoROVNA. Good-by, my dear; do not blame us in any way--that would be a sin for you. G.o.d grant that you may live happily; we shall not forget you. MiTYA _bows and goes out_.

SCENE VII

PELAGeYA EGoROVNA, LYUBoV GORDeYEVNA _and later_ KoRSHUNOV.

PELAGeYA EGoROVNA. How I pity that boy, Lyubov dear! Oh, my child, oh, dear! It never entered my head that you loved him. How could I guess it, poor old woman that I am! What do I amount to? There, crying is our business, and I haven't any authority over my daughter! But it would be a good idea! I'd enjoy the sight of you in my old age. The boy is such an honest fellow, with such a tender heart, and he would be fond of me in my old age. And as I look at you, my child, how can you help being sad? And I have no way to help you, my darling!

LYUBoV GORDeYEVNA. Well, mother, what's the use of thinking about what's impossible, and only torturing ourselves?

_Seats herself and is silent; some one knocks; the voice of KoRSHUNOV is heard,_ "May I come in?"

PELAGeYA EGoROVNA. Come in, sir. KoRSHUNOV. [_Entering_] Ah, there she is, my bride! Where were you hiding yourself? He, he! I'll find you, I'll find you anywhere. If you please, Pelageya Egorovna, permit me to talk confidentially with your daughter about our own affairs.

PELAGeYA EGoROVNA. Certainly. [_Goes out_. KoRSHUNOV. [_Seats himself near_ LYUBoV GORDeYEVNA] What are you crying about, young lady? For shame, for shame! He, he, he! There! I'm older than you, and I don't cry. [_Looks at her searchingly_] Oh, well, I know what it's about! I suppose you want to marry a young fellow? Now, this, my pretty one [_takes her hand and kisses it_] is just girlish folly. Now, just listen to what I'm going to tell you; I'll tell you the truth straight out. I don't like to deceive any one, and have no need to. Will you listen, eh?

LYUBoV GORDeYEVNA. Yes.

KoRSHUNOV. Good! Now, we'll begin with this point. Will a young man appreciate your love? Any girl will love a young man; that is nothing unusual for him; but to an old man it is precious. An old man will reward you for your love with some little gift, this and that--with gold, and with velvet--and there's nothing he won't give you. [_Kisses her hand_] And in Moscow there are lots of nice things in the shops; there are things worth giving! So it's nice to fall in love with an old man. That's number one for you! And then this is what happens with a young and good-looking husband.

You see they are a fickle lot! Before you know it he will be running after some one else, or some young lady will fall in love with him, and then his wife may pine away. Then come reproaches and jealousy. And what is this jealousy, eh? He, he, he! Do you know, young lady, what this jealousy is?

LYUBoV GORDeYEVNA. No, I don't know.

KoRSHUNOV. But I know! It isn't like a needle p.r.i.c.k in the finger; it's far more painful than that. You see the cursed thing consumes a man. From jealousy people stab one another, and poison one another with a.r.s.enic!

[_Laughs spasmodically and coughs_] But when any one falls in love with an old man, then all is peaceful for his wife. And here's something else I will tell you, my dear young lady: Young men like to go on sprees; they like gayety and distraction, and all sorts of dissipations, and their wives may sit at home and wait for them till midnight. And they come home drunk, and bully their wives, and swagger. But an old man will just sit near his wife; he'll die before he'll leave her. And he would like to look into her eyes all the time and to caress her and to kiss her hands. [_Kisses them_]

Just like that.

LYUBoV GORDeYEVNA. Did your deceased wife love you?

KoRSHUNOV. [_Looks at her attentively_] And why do you ask this, young lady?

LYUBoV GORDeYEVNA. I just wanted to know.

KoRSHUNOV. You wanted to know? [_Rises_] No, she didn't love me, and I didn't love her either. She wasn't worth loving--I took her, poor, a beggar, just for her beauty; I took care of her whole family; I saved her father from prison; she went about in gold.

LYUBoV GORDeYEVNA. Love cannot be bought with gold.

KoRSHUNOV. Whether you love a man or not, you ought to show him some regard. They needed money, they had nothing to live on; I gave it to them, I didn't refuse. And _I_ needed their love. Had I a right to exact this or not? You see I paid money for it! It's a sin to make complaints about me.

Whoever I love has a good living in the world, and if I don't love any one, then he need not reproach me. [_He becomes excited and walks about_] Yes, I'm that man's enemy; he'd better keep out of my sight! My words and looks, more than my deeds, shall pursue him! I won't give the man room to breathe!

I--[_Stops and bursts out laughing_] And you really thought that I was such a cross man? He, he! I said it in fun, for a joke! I'm a simple, kind old man! I'll dandle you in my arms [_hums_]; I'll rock you in a little cradle; I'll sing you to sleep. [_Kisses her hands_.

GORDeY KaRPYCH _comes in._

SCENE VIII

LYUBoV GORDeYEVNA, KoRSHUNOV, and GORDeY KaRPYCH

GORDeY KaRPYCH. Ah, so that's where my son-in-law is! We've been looking for you. We've already started in on the champagne. Come along to the guests; at our house a feast isn't a feast without you.

KoRSHUNOV. I like it here.

GORDeY KaRPYCH. Then we'll order it to be served here, and we'll drink it with you. [_Walks to the door_] Hey, boy, serve the wine here! On a silver tray! [_Sits down_] Now, son-in-law, what do you say?

KoRSHUNOV. Nothing.

GORDeY KaRPYCH. How, nothing?

KoRSHUNOV. Just nothing.

GORDeY KaRPYCH. But don't you really? [_Looks at him_] Can you understand me now?

KoRSHUNOV. Why shouldn't I understand you?

GORDeY KaRPYCH. Now we've had this little spree! So now you tell me, what sort of a man I am. Can they appreciate me here?

KoRSHUNOV. Why should they appreciate you?

GORDeY KaRPYCH. No, tell me this: Isn't everything well done here? In other houses a young fellow waits at table in a Russian smock, or there's a peasant girl; but in my house there's a butler in cotton gloves.

This butler is a trained man, from Moscow; he knows all the ways of society--where each man should be seated, and what's to be done. But how is it at other people's houses? They collect in one room, they sit down in a ring, and sing peasant songs. Of course it's jolly, but I consider it's vulgar; there's no style about it. And what do they drink in their boorishness? Home-made cordials, all sorts of cherry water! And they don't even _know_ that champagne is the proper thing! Oh, if I could live in Moscow, or in Petersburg, I'd make a point of following every fas.h.i.+on.

KoRSHUNOV. You don't mean every fas.h.i.+on?

GORDeY KaRPYCH. Every one. As long as my money held out, I wouldn't stint myself. You just look out, Lyubov; you toe the mark! Or else your bridegroom--you see he's from Moscow--may be ashamed of you. I suppose you don't even know how to walk gracefully, and you don't understand how to talk as is proper in company.

LYUBoV GORDeYEVNA. I say what I feel, father; I wasn't brought up in a boarding-school.

_The butler enters, and gives wine to KoRSHUNOV and GORDeY KaRPYCH. He places the bottles on the table, and goes out._

GORDeY KaRPYCH. That's it, son-in-law! Just let them know what sort of man Gordey Karpych Tortsov is!

_EGoRUSHKA comes in._

EGoRUSHKA. Uncle Gordey Karpych, come here, if you please.

GORDeY KaRPYCH. What's the matter with you?

EGoRUSHKA. Come, please: there's such a scene! [_Laughs_]