Plays by Aleksandr Nikolaevich Ostrovsky Part 52

ULYaNA. Yes, my dear; it's supper-time. My boss is probably storming and pacing the floor by now. Come and see us!

PROKoFYEVNA. Good-by.

_They kiss each other. PROKoFYEVNA goes out through the gate._

SCENE II

ULYaNA and later AFoNYA

ULYaNA. Who knows whether Prokofyevna was lying or not. You can't believe her; she's a rogue. I'd give a lot to find out for certain if she's now with the gentleman or not. Will it hurt to wait? If she stays long, my husband will make such a fuss that I won't forget it for a month of Sundays. You're lucky that I'm in a hurry, or I'd watch out for you. [_Goes out. She meets AFoNYA_] Afonya, where are you going?

AFoNYA. Go away, leave me alone! Leave me alone!

ULYaNA. Is Tatyana at home?

AFoNYA. No, she's gone.

ULYaNA. Then she's here at the gentleman's; I just saw her.

AFoNYA. At the gentleman's? Heavens! Have people no sense of shame!

ULYaNA. I've got to run home; I'll tell my husband, then I'll call at your house. [_Going away_] Wait, brother, wait! I'll get even with you for your insults! [_Goes out_.

AFoNYA. Heavens! I haven't any strength! How is one to live in such a world? This is a punishment for our sins! Left her husband for a stranger!

She was sitting in a corner starving; we took care of her, gave her fine clothes bought with hard-earned money! Brother denies himself, denies his family, and gives her cash to buy rags, and now she and a stranger are cursing us for the shelter we gave her. It makes me sick! Why don't I die!

I'm shedding tears of blood. We've warmed a viper in our bosom. [_Leans against the fence_] I'll wait, I'll wait. I'll tell her everything, everything that's seething in my heart.

BABaYEV _and_ TATYaNA _come out of the gate_; AFoNYA _hides behind a corner_.

SCENE III

AFoNYA, BABaYEV, _and_ TATYaNA

BABaYEV. What are you afraid of? There's not a soul on the street. Why are you in such a hurry? It isn't half an hour since you came.

TATYaNA. No, no! Somehow I feel uneasy.

BABaYEV. I don't understand why you are so afraid. Well, your husband will scold and that's all.

TATYaNA. I was late the time before; how terribly he acted; I thought he'd kill me. He makes me afraid, frightfully afraid! [_Silence_] Shall you return soon?

BABaYEV. In a week, in ten days at most.

TATYaNA. Oh, how has this come about! Oh, if we had what we wanted: you'd go to the country--and I'd go there too; you'd go to St. Petersburg--and I'd follow you.

BABaYEV. I asked you to come with me.

TATYaNA. It's all right for you. You're a free man, while I'm no better than a captive. That's my trouble. I've thought more than once how I could run away to you.

BABaYEV. That's good.

TATYaNA. Just think how unfortunate my life is: in order to have a little pleasure I have to deceive my husband. It's all deceit and deceit! But what's the use of deceiving? It disgusts me; it's not in my character. If my husband guessed that I didn't love him, then he'd kill me with scolding and reproaches. I very well understand that I can't be a real wife to him, and that I'm not wanted by his family; and they'd rather I were anywhere else; but who can I explain that to, who'd understand it! Just see how rough and stern they are, and I'm not used to sternness. What a life, when there's no freedom!

BABaYEV. Tanya, I'll tell you what to do! Tell him outright that you don't want to live with him. You and your sister rent a house, and I'll send you the money.

TATYaNA. That's impossible. Not to be thought of! Do you think he'd let me go? He doesn't care if I die--so long as I'm with him--before his eyes. It would be better for me to leave quietly.

BABaYEV. Very well, leave quietly.

TATYaNA. Really, I don't know. We're all brave when it's a matter of words, but when it comes to action, then you lose your reason, especially such as I. Do as you wish. I'll do as you advise me. If you love me, you won't want to cause my ruin.

BABaYEV. Of course not.

TATYaNA. They're right when they say that all women are insane; I married of my own accord--n.o.body forced me--so now I ought to live according to my vows; but I'm drawn to you, and want to escape from my home. It's all your fault, Valentin Pavlich; home has become disgusting to me because of you.

If it weren't for you, I'd manage to live somehow with my husband; at least I shouldn't know this sorrow.

BABaYEV. A fine life! You have much to regret!

TATYaNA. But is my life agreeable now? Of course I ought not to blame you much, because I'm entirely to blame myself. You have nothing to worry about! Yours is a man's affair, and no one will condemn you; but we have to suffer for every single thing. But what's to be done! It's too late to argue who's in the right and who's to blame; but I guess this affair had to happen. But don't you deceive me; come back!

BABaYEV. Oh, stop; what do you mean! Certainly I'll come back.

TATYaNA. [_Kissing him_] Good-by! It's time for me to go! My, how I'm shivering! My legs fairly totter under me.

BABaYEV. Calm yourself a little. Come, I'll walk along the bank with you; you'll get home in time. [_They go out_.

AFoNYA. So this, brother Lev, is what you deserted us for! Just look, and enjoy it! You act like a wild beast to those who love you with their whole soul. I'm burning up like a candle, I'm wasting away because of love and pity for you, and yet I haven't once heard a kind word from you. You doted on your wife, and see what she's up to, the wretch! No, there's no truth in the world, none. [_Goes out_.

TABLEAU II

_Same room as in_ ACT III

SCENE I

LUKeRYA _enters with a candle and places it on a table; later_ AFoNYA _comes in_.

LUKeRYA. Why doesn't Tanya return! It's high time, She's insane! She's just glad that she got out of here; she doesn't realize that suddenly, when you least expect it, her husband may return. Here I am on pins and needles.