Plays by Aleksandr Nikolaevich Ostrovsky Part 42

LUKeRYA. [_Glancing towards the window_] He's coming, Tanya; he's coming!

[_Both run out of the room_.

KRASNoV. Where so suddenly? What are you running after?

LUKeRYA. What do you mean? Recollect yourself. We must be courteous and go to meet him. [_They go out_.

AFoNYA. Brother! You drove sister away. Whether right or not, let G.o.d judge you! But I tell you, you'd better watch the gentleman.

KRASNoV. What the deuce have you got to do with this? You hiss like a snake. You want to wound me. Get out of here! Go, I tell you, or I'll kill you.

AFoNYA. Well, kill! My life isn't very sweet to me, and I haven't long to live, anyway. But don't be blind! Don't be blind! [_Goes out_.

KRASNoV. What are they doing to me? Must I really be on my guard, or are they just frightening me? Where then is love! Is it possible, Lord, that I have taken unto me not a joy but a torture! Rouse yourself, Lev Rodionych, rouse yourself. Hearken not to the fiend. You have one joy--he's seizing it, and draining your heart. You will ruin your whole life! You will perish for no cause. All those are slanderous words. They're spiteful because my wife is good, and we get along together--so they begin to stir up trouble.

That's clearly seen. It's so in every family. The best way is to drop it and not think about it. The gentleman will have to be gotten rid of; I must see that he never looks our way any more. "Come oftener," I'll tell him, "we like it better when you aren't here." So there'll be less talk and my heart will be calmer.

_Enter_ BABaYEV, TATYaNA, _and_ LUKeRYA.

SCENE IV

BABaYEV, KRASNoV, TATYaNA, and LUKeRYA

BABaYEV. So this is where you live! Is this your own little house?

TATYaNA. Our own. This is my husband.

BABaYEV. I'm delighted. I've known your wife a long while.

KRASNoV. That's your affair.

BABaYEV. You're in business?

KRASNoV. That's my affair.

TATYaNA. Won't you be seated? [BABaYEV _and_ KRASNoV _take seats_]

Shouldn't you like some tea?

BABaYEV. No, thank you; I don't care for tea now.

LUKeRYA. Ah, Tanya, we've forgotten that now in St. Petersburg they have different tastes. [To BABaYEV] We can have coffee immediately.

BABaYEV. No, please do not trouble yourself; I've already had some. Let us rather sit and talk. Are you happy here? Have you any amus.e.m.e.nts here?

TATYaNA. No. What sort of amus.e.m.e.nts can one have here?

BABaYEV. How do you spend your time? Is it possible you are always at home?

TATYaNA. Mostly.

KRASNoV. And that is proper among such as us. Our Russian way is: husband and dog in the yard, and wife and cat in the house.

LUKeRYA. [In a low voice to KRASNoV] Can't you speak more politely?

KRASNoV. I know my business.

BABaYEV. So you're a housekeeper. I should think it must have been hard for you to get used to your new duties.

TATYaNA. [_Glancing at her husband_] Yes; of course I can't say--of course--at first----

BABaYEV. [_To_ LUKeRYA] I'm asking, but I don't really know myself what these duties consist of.

LUKeRYA. But considering your n.o.ble birth, that's beneath your knowledge.

KRASNoV. There's nothing vulgar about it.

BABaYEV. Really, what is there vulgar in it?

LUKeRYA. The words are low and even quite coa.r.s.e, and they aren't usually spoken before people of good breeding.

BABaYEV. Well, imagine that I'm a man of no breeding. What are the words, tell me?

LUKeRYA. You're embarra.s.sing Tanya and me. But if you're interested to hear those words, all right! The kitchen and other common things belong to the household: the frying-pan, the handle, the oven fork. Isn't that low?

KRASNoV. Whether the oven fork is high or low, if you put the soup in the stove you've got to get it out.

TATYaNA. You might spare your wife before guests.

KRASNoV. I haven't insulted you a hair's breadth either before guests or without guests. When you're asked what sort of a housekeeper you are for your husband, right before him, then I should think you'd answer, that you're a good housekeeper, and aren't ashamed of your position, because among such as us that is the first duty.

LUKeRYA. [_In a low voice to_ KRASNoV] You're disturbing our conversation with our guest.

BABaYEV. [_In a low voice to_ TATYaNA] Is he always like this?

TATYaNA. [_In a low voice_] I don't know what's the matter with him.

BABaYEV. [_In a low voice_] You see for yourself that I've no business here. You'd better come to me to-day, and I'll go home now. [_Aloud_] Well, good-by. I hope this isn't the last time we meet.

LUKeRYA. Certainly, certainly.

TATYaNA. We are most grateful for your visit!

KRASNoV. [_Bowing_] Good-by to you! Are you going away from here soon?

BABaYEV. I don't know. Whenever my affairs are settled.

KRASNoV. But when, do you think?