Plays by Aleksandr Nikolaevich Ostrovsky Part 53

When I hear any one at the door my heart almost stops. Every minute seems a year. Afonya torments me too. I wonder where he went. Isn't he spying on her? Of course I can find ten replies to every word he says; yet he may rouse suspicion. Ah, some one is coming! Is it possible that it's Lev!

Heaven forbid! I do believe I'll die. [AFoNYA _comes in, and, groaning, lies down on the stove-couch_] Where have you been?

AFoNYA. Never you mind.

LUKeRYA. Speak, it won't hurt your voice.

AFoNYA. I don't want to talk to you.

LUKeRYA. [_Caressingly_] Don't you feel well, Afonya?

AFoNYA. Oh, Heavens! don't touch me, don't touch! You can't fool me.

LUKeRYA. I don't in the least wish to fool you.

AFoNYA. You fooled brother, but you can't fool me. No, no! LUKeRYA. I don't understand a bit what you're talking about.

AFoNYA. Oh, I'm exhausted! Go away: out of my sight. Don't torment me.

LUKeRYA. You feel worse because you don't appreciate kindness.

AFoNYA. I don't need it! I don't need anything.

LUKeRYA. Well, then just lie on your couch. Do you think I want anything from you? I only spoke out of sympathy. [_Silence_] What a senseless girl; how senseless! I'm all a-tremble.

KRASNoV comes in.

SCENE II

The same and KRASNoV

KRASNoV. Well, here I am. What a trick I've played! The joke's on Tatyana Danilovna. "Expect me in an hour," I said, and here I am in half an hour, so she'd be surprised. I was invited to tea, but I didn't stay. "Do you think I want tea," I said, "when I have a young wife at home who's waiting for me!" But where is she?

LUKeRYA. I don't know. Somewhere around. Isn't she in the garden?

KRASNoV. Send her in right away, I want to give her a present for her kindness to-day.

LUKeRYA. Right away, right away. [_Goes out_]

KRASNoV. [_Paces up and dawn in silence; then speaks to himself_]

Fifty-seven rubles, six and three, nine to Peter Ananyev. [_Pause_] Has she disappeared? [_Paces up and down in silence_] Afonya, do you know where my wife went?

AFoNYA. Don't know. Oh, I feel sick.

KRASNoV. What's she dallying around for? [_Goes to the door_] Tatyana Danilovna! Lukerya Danilovna! They don't even answer. What does that mean now? Afanasy, where's my wife?

AFoNYA. Are you lonesome without her? She'll come, don't be afraid. No matter where she's strolling, she'll come home.

KRASNoV. [_At the door_] Tatyana Danilovna!

ULYaNA _comes in_.

SCENE III

_The same and_ ULYaNA

KRASNoV. Who's that? Is that you, Ulyana?

ULYaNA. Yes, brother.

KRASNoV. What do you want?

ULYaNA. Just to call on you, brother, as a relative should.

KRASNoV. I'm in no great need of your calls.

ULYaNA. My feelings, brother, are different from yours; I can't help remembering my kindred. Where's your bride?

KRASNoV. She seems to have gotten lost somewhere here. I keep calling her, but can't raise her.

ULYaNA. Maybe she's far away from here, so she can't hear your call

KRASNoV. What do you mean by "far"? I tell you she's at home.

ULYaNA. Who said that? Wasn't it her sister, Lukerya Danilovna?

KRASNoV. Yes, maybe it was she.

ULYaNA. And you believed her. Oh, you're simple, simple!

KRASNoV. Go away, sister! Keep out of trouble!

ULYaNA. Come to your senses; what are you shouting for? I saw with my own eyes how she went to the gentleman.

KRASNoV. So that's the kind of family I have! My luck sticks in their throats. You're a barbarian, you jealous woman. To kill you would be small penalty for your cursed tongue! [_Raises his arm to strike her_.

AFoNYA. [_Getting up from the couch_] Quieter, you; quieter! What are you making a row for?

KRASNoV. I'll hang you both on the same poplar!

AFoNYA. [_Shielding his sister_] Don't touch her, don't lay a finger on her! She's telling the truth, the absolute truth.

KRASNoV. You lie, you're jealous, both of you! It isn't an hour, I tell you; it isn't an hour since we sat here, kissing and embracing, looking into each other's eyes and couldn't get enough of it.