Plays by Aleksandr Nikolaevich Ostrovsky Part 41

KuRITSYN. What words are those? Who's talking? What's that you say?

[_Looking around_] Is any stranger here? Seems to me, my people in my own house don't dare to speak that way!

ULYaNA. [_With a start_] I just said that for instance, Manuylo Kalinich.

Because, sister, women like us can't live without strict discipline. It's a true proverb: "If you beat your wife, the soup tastes better."

TATYaNA. Every one to his own taste! You, sister, like such treatment, while I consider it the height of rudeness.

LUKeRYA. Nowadays, such peasant's conduct is discarded everywhere; it's getting out of fashion.

KuRITSYN. You lie! Such treatment of women can never get out of fashion, because you can't get along without it. Brother, listen to what point I've brought Ulyana. We used to have disputes among ourselves, among acquaintances or relatives, whose wife was more attentive; I'd bring 'em to my house, sit on the bench, and push my foot out, so--and say to wife, "What does my foot want?" and she understood because she'd been trained. Of course she at once fell at my feet.

ULYaNA. Yes, that's so, that used to happen. I can say that without shame, to everybody.

KRASNoV. There's nothing good in that, just swagger.

KuRITSYN. Ah, brother! Beat your overcoat and it will be warmer; beat a wife--she'll be smarter.

TATYaNA. Not every wife will allow herself to be beaten, and the one that allows it, isn't worth any other treatment.

ULYaNA. Why are you giving yourself such airs all of a sudden, sister? Am I worse than you? You just wait awhile, you'll taste all that. We can clip your wings, too.

KRASNoV. Yes, but be careful.

ULYaNA. What are you saying? Married a beggar and you're putting on airs.

Do you think that you've married the daughter of a distinguished landowner?

KRASNoV. What I think--is my business, and you can't understand it with your wits. You'd better keep still.

LUKeRYA. What an interesting conversation--worth while hearing!

ULYaNA. It seems to me she doesn't come from n.o.bles but from government clerks. Not a very great lady! Goats and government clerks are the devil's own kin.

KRASNoV. I told you to keep still! I shouldn't have to tell you ten times.

You ought to understand it at once.

KuRITSYN. Leave them alone. I like it when the women start a row.

KRASNoV. But I don't like it.

ULYaNA. What do I care what you like! I'm not trying to please you. My, how stern you are! You'd better scold your own wife, not me; I'm not under your orders; you aren't my boss. I have a good husband who can boss me, not you.

I'm not to blame because your wife wanders around highways and byways, and flirts with young gentlemen for hours.

KRASNoV. [_Jumping up_] What's that!

TATYaNA. I know nothing of highways and byways; I have told you, Lev Rodionych, that I met Valentin Pavlich on the bank, and even everything that we said.

LUKeRYA. Yes, I was there with them.

ULYaNA. Yes, you're the same sort.

KRASNoV. You're a regular snake in the gra.s.s! And you call yourself a sister. What do you want? To make trouble between us? You're spiteful because I love my wife! You may rest a.s.sured that I wouldn't change her for anybody. For thirty years I've slaved for my family, labored till I sweated blood, and I thought of marriage only when I'd provided for the whole family. For thirty years I haven't known any pleasures. That's why I have to be thankful to my wife, who has beauty and education, for loving me, a peasant. Formerly I worked for you; now I will work for her forever. I'll perish working, but I'll give her every comfort. I should kiss her feet, because I very well understand that I and my whole household aren't worth her little finger. Do you think after this I will allow her to be abused! I respect her--and you all must respect her!

LUKeRYA. Sister herself understands that she deserves all respect.

KRASNoV. What's that you were saying, Ulyana? If you're right, then it's all up with me! See here! I have only one joy, one consolation, and I should have to give it up. Is that easy? Is it? I'm not made of stone that I can look at such wifely doings through my fingers! Your foolish words have entered my ears and wrenched my heart. If I believed you, then--G.o.d keep me from it--I should soon do some violence! One can't vouch for himself as to what may happen. Maybe the devil will jog my elbow. G.o.d save us! This is not a joking matter! If you wanted to hurt me, you should have taken a knife and thrust it into my side--that would have been easier for me. After such words it's better that I never see you again, you breaker-up of families. I'd rather disown all my people than endure your poison.

ULYaNA. I'm not the cause of separation. It's she that's breaking up families.

KuRITSYN. Well, brother! Evidently, if it's the wife's kin--open the door; but if it's the husband's kin--then shut the door. You visit us and we'll show you hospitality. Come, wife, we'd better go home!

ULYaNA. Well, good-by, sister, but remember! And you, brother, just wait; we'll settle accounts somehow. [_They go out_.

SCENE III

KRASNoV, TATYaNA, LUKeRYA, and AFoNYA

KRASNoV. [_Approaching his wife_] Tatyana Danilovna, I hope you won't take that to heart, because they're a rough lot.

TATYaNA. That's the kind of relatives you have! I lived better beyond comparison as a girl; at least I knew that no one dared to insult me.

LUKeRYA. [_Clearing the table_] We didn't a.s.sociate with the common people.

KRASNoV. And I'll never let you be insulted. You saw I didn't spare my own sister, and drove her out of my house; but if it had been a stranger, he wouldn't have got off alive. You don't know my character yet; at times I'm afraid of myself.

TATYaNA. What, do you become dreadfully furious?

KRASNoV. Not that I'm furious, I'm hot-tempered. I'm beside myself, and don't see people at such times.

TATYaNA. How terribly you talk! Why didn't you tell me about your character before? I wouldn't have married you.

KRASNoV. There's nothing bad in a man's being hot-tempered. That means that he's eager in all things, even in his work, and he can love better, because he has more feeling than others.

TATYaNA. Now I shall be afraid of you.

KRASNoV. I don't want you to fear me. But I should like to know when you are going to love me?

TATYaNA. What sort of love do you want to have from me?

KRASNoV. You know yourself what sort; but maybe you don't feel it. What's to be done? We'll wait, perhaps it'll come later. Everything can happen in this world! There have been cases where love has come the fifth or sixth year after marriage. And what love! Better than if it came at first.

TATYaNA. Keep on waiting.

LUKeRYA. You're very hot in your love; but we're of entirely different bringing up.

KRASNoV. You speak of bringing up? I'll tell you this, that if I were younger, I'd take up and study for Tatyana Danilovna. I know, myself, what I lack, but now it's too late. I've a soul but no training. If I were trained----