Plays by Aleksandr Nikolaevich Ostrovsky Part 12

MADAM ULANBeKOV _enters._ POTaPYCH _goes out._

SCENE II

MADAM ULANBeKOV _and_ VASILiSA PEREGRiNOVNA

VASILiSA PEREGRiNOVNA. [_Kissing both of_ MADAM ULANBeKOV'S _hands_] You have risen early, benefactress. You must have an awful lot of things on your mind.

MADAM ULANBeKOV. [_Sitting down_] I didn't sleep much. I had a bad dream.

VASILiSA PEREGRiNOVNA. What, a dream, benefactress? The dream may be terrible, but G.o.d is merciful. Not the dream, but what is going on in reality, disturbs you, benefactress. I see that; I've seen it a long time.

MADAM ULANBeKOV. Bah, what is it to me what's going on?

VASILiSA PEREGRiNOVNA. Why, benefactress, don't we know that your son, dear little soul! is struck with every creature he meets?

MADAM ULANBeKOV. You make me tired.

VASILiSA PEREGRiNOVNA. I'm so sorry for you, benefactress! Don't look for any consolation in this life! You scatter benefactions upon every one; but how do they repay you? The world is full of l.u.s.t.

MADAM ULANBeKOV. Go away!

VASILiSA PEREGRiNOVNA. [_Weeping_] I can't keep back my tears when I look at you! My heart bleeds that they don't respect you, that they don't respect you even in your own house! In your honorable house, in such pious premises as these, to do such things!

MADAM ULANBeKOV. [_Frowning_] You silly crow! You want to croak about something or other. Well, croak away!

VASILiSA PEREGRiNOVNA. Benefactress, I'm afraid it might upset you.

MADAM ULANBeKOV. You've upset me already. Talk!

VASILiSA PEREGRiNOVNA. [_Glances about in all directions and sits down on a stool at the feet of_ MADAM ULANBeKOV] Yesterday, benefactress, I was ending my evening prayer to the Heavenly Creator, and went out to stroll in the garden, and to occupy myself for the night with pious meditations.

MADAM ULANBeKOV. Well!

VASILiSA PEREGRiNOVNA. And what did I see there, benefactress! How my legs held me up, I don't know! That Liza of yours was running through the bushes with a depraved look; it must be she was seeking her lovers. Our master, the little angel! was rowing in the boat on the pond, and Nadya, also with a depraved expression, was clinging to him with her arms about his neck, and was kissing him. And it was easy to see that he, because of his purity, was trying to thrust her away; but she kept clasping him about the neck, kissing and tempting him.

MADAM ULANBeKOV. Are you lying?

VASILiSA PEREGRiNOVNA. You may quarter me, benefactress.

MADAM ULANBeKOV. It's enough if there is one grain of truth in your words.

VASILiSA PEREGRiNOVNA. It's all true, benefactress.

MADAM ULANBeKOV. Fiddlesticks! not all--it can't be! You always make up more than half. But where were the servants?

VASILiSA PEREGRiNOVNA. All of them, benefactress, were more or less drunk.

No sooner had you gone to bed, than they all went to the fair and got tipsy. Gavrilovna, Potapych, all were drunk. What an example to the young!

MADAM ULANBeKOV. This must be looked into thoroughly. Of course, I shouldn't have expected the least mischief of Leonid. Quiet lads like him!

Well, if he'd been a soldier, it would be pardonable; but as it is....

[_She muses._

VASILiSA PEREGRiNOVNA. And furthermore, benefactress, so far Grisha hasn't come back from the fair.

MADAM ULANBeKOV. How's that? He didn't sleep at home?

VASILiSA PEREGRiNOVNA. He did not, benefactress!

MADAM ULANBeKOV. You lie, you lie, you lie! I'll drive you off the place!

VASILiSA PEREGRiNOVNA. May I die in my tracks!

MADAM ULANBeKOV. [_Sinking back in her chair_] You want to kill me.

[_Raising herself from the chair_] You simply want to kill me. [_She rings.

Enter_ POTaPYCH] Where's Grisha?

POTaPYCH. Just came, ma'am.

MADAM ULANBeKOV. Send him here! [POTaPYCH _goes out_] This certainly beats all!

VASILiSA PEREGRiNOVNA. You'll not find anybody more devoted than I, benefactress; only I am unhappy in one respect: that my disposition displeases you.

_Enter_ GRiSHA, _his hair tousled and dishevelled._

SCENE III

_The same, and_ GRiSHA

MADAM ULANBeKOV. Where've you been?

GRiSHA. [_Now opens, now closes his eyes, not sure of his tongue, and unsteady on his legs_] At the fair, ma'am.

MADAM ULANBeKOV. Just come from it? [GRiSHA _is silent_] Why don't you talk? [_Silence_] Am I going to get a word out of you, or not?

VASILiSA PEREGRiNOVNA. Answer the mistress.

GRiSHA. What's that to you?

MADAM ULANBeKOV. Answer me! Where have you been all this time?

GRiSHA. I've done wrong, ma'am.