Plays by Aleksandr Nikolaevich Ostrovsky Part 48

ARKHiP. That's enough from you!

TATYaNA. Why should I fool you? What's the use?

AFoNYA. You came to your senses when brother frightened you a little. You ought to have done it long ago. If you're in earnest, then drop your proud ways. You ought to bow down to your husband's feet, right to his feet. And to all of us, to all. You have wronged all of us.

LUKeRYA. [_In a low voice_] That would be entirely too much honor.

TATYaNA. Why should I bow down to my husband?

AFoNYA. For everything that he's done for you. I saw myself how he kneeled before you! It's a shame! [_Covers his face with his hands_.

LUKeRYA. What of it, if he wanted to?

AFoNYA. He's no worse than you, yet he bowed down to you; now you bow down to him. Make up to him for his humiliation. It won't hurt you! And bow down to all of us, even to our brother-in-law and sister.

TATYaNA. Bowing down to my husband has some sense in it, but why should I to you?

AFoNYA. Because brother insulted all of us on your account. On account of you our family has been broken up. You're dearer to him than anybody, dearer than all his own.

ARKHiP. Calm yourself! Try to control this fit of anger! We want to make peace, and you are starting a quarrel again.

LUKeRYA. He's not even her husband, yet what awful things he says! If you gave him his way, he would make our life unbearable.

ARKHiP. [_Patting_ AFoNYA _on the head_] What do you expect of him? He's a sick man.

KRASNoV _comes in_.

SCENE IV

KRASNoV, TATYaNA, LUKeRYA, ARKHiP, _and_ AFoNYA

LUKeRYA. [_In a low voice to_ ARKHiP] Lev Rodionych is here.

ARKHiP. Lev, you haven't had any dinner to-day.

KRASNoV. I had no time.

TATYaNA. If you wish, we'll serve you now.

KRASNoV. [_Sitting down to the table_] Certainly. I can't get along without eating!

TATYaNA. Set the table, sister! [_Goes to the kitchen_. LUKeRYA _sets the table_.

ARKHiP. Lev, are you going back to the shop?

KRASNoV. No, I'm all through there.

ARKHiP. Will you stay at home?

KRASNoV. I'll be here for an hour, then I have to go across the river to make a collection.

TATYaNA _brings a plate of cabbage soup, puts it on the table, and goes out with_ LUKeRYA. KRASNoV, _after eating several spoonfuls, is lost in thought_.

ARKHiP. Lev! I can't see you, but it seems as if you weren't happy.

KRASNoV. What's there to be happy about?

ARKHiP. Why are you so sad? What's your sorrow?

KRASNoV. It's my sorrow, grandfather, mine. My very own. It's for me to judge of it.

ARKHiP. Well, as you choose! It's your sorrow, and for you to bear.

[_Pause_] If I say anything, you know I'm not your enemy; if you scold me, there's no harm in it. I've lived longer than you, and I've seen more sorrow; maybe what I say will be good for you.

KRASNoV. It isn't the kind of affair, grandfather, that needs advice! You can't tell me anything.

ARKHiP. You're foolish, foolis.h.!.+ How do you know? Are you wiser than the rest of us?

KRASNoV. Please stop. I can't discuss with you. What do you want? _Strikes the spoon against the bowl angrily_. LUKeRYA _enters, places a bowl of mush on the table, and goes out_.

ARKHiP. Your wife is wiser than you, really wiser.

KRASNoV. If she were wise she'd obey her husband.

ARKHiP. Not necessarily! One can't be on one's guard every minute! Don't you hold anger for every little thing. One wrong--is no wrong; and two wrongs--a half wrong; it takes three wrongs to make a whole wrong.

KRASNoV. What wrongs! All wrongs aren't the same. For some wrongs strangling would be mild.

ARKHiP. What makes you so fierce? Nowadays, they don't hang a man even for highway robbery.

KRASNoV. I can't even eat my food.

ARKHiP. You have a terrible temper! I began to talk about your wife; that wasn't just for the sake of saying something. She came to her senses before you did. [KRASNoV _listens_] "Grandfather Arkhip," says she, "put in a word for me to my husband! I love him," says she, "but I'm afraid of his temper.

He seems to think me bad without any reason. I wouldn't exchange him for any one," says she. "I'd try to please him in every way, just so he forgives me and doesn't get angry."

KRASNoV. Is that true?

ARKHiP. Have you gone absolutely crazy? Do you think I'd turn liar in my old age? She'd have told you herself; she wants to bow down to you but, you see, she's ashamed, and then she's afraid.

KRASNoV. [_Rising_] Grandfather Arkhip, understand me! You know how I love her, there's no need telling! Until this happened, we lived together very comfortably; you all saw how I simply doted on her. Now that this gentleman has come I see that he talks in too free and easy a way with her; and that made me angry. Would you believe me, I didn't know what I was doing or saying. When she went to him, I waited half an hour--she didn't return; I waited an hour--she didn't return; I became furious; my very teeth began to chatter. Here I was imagining all sorts of things! Maybe I'm doing her wrong, am unjust to her; maybe she meant nothing; but what was there to do?

I'm consumed with a fire, absolutely consumed, I wronged her, I admit; but was it easy for me? If you'd told me that she'd just died--I don't know what I'd do with myself, but it would be easier; then no one could take her from me. [_Weeps_] Some want money or reputation, but I need nothing except her love. Give me the choice: Here, Krasnov, you can have gold-mines and royal castles, if you'll only give up your wife; or here, you can have a roofless mud hut, all sorts of hard work, but you may live with your wife.

I won't utter a sound. I'll carry water on my back, just to be with her always. So listen, grandfather! Is it strange that with my hot temper I hurt her? If there's no love, then there's no anger. But you tell me that she herself wants to bow down to me! Such happiness can't come to me even in a dream. Certainly that is a load off my shoulders. It seems as though I'd just been born into the world! Thank you, grandfather Arkhip!

I was a dead man and you brought me to life again! I had such thoughts in my head that I can't make up for them by praying all my life. The devil was surely near me. Not only did he whisper in my ear, but--it's a sin to say it--[_in a low voice_] he might have made me raise my arm.