The Live Corpse Part 13

MaSHA. Well, there isn't much good in her, if she's thrown you over.

FeDYA. She didn't--I threw her over.

MaSHA. All right, all right! It's always you. She is an angel! What else!

FeDYA. This--that you are a good, dear girlie--and that I love you, and if I live I shall ruin you.

MaSHA. That's not your business. I know quite well what will ruin me.

FeDYA [sighs] But above all, above all ... What use is my life? Don't I know that I am a lost good-for-nothing? I am a burden to myself and to everybody--as your father said. I'm worthless....

MaSHA. What rubbish! I shall stick to you. I've stuck to you already, and there's an end of it! As to your leading a bad life, drinking and going on the spree--well, you're a living soul! Give it up, and have done with it!

FeDYA. That's easily said.

MaSHA. Well, then, do it.

FeDYA. Yes, when I look at you I feel as if I could really do anything.

MaSHA. And so you shall! Yes, you'll do it! [Sees the letter] What's that? You've written to them? What have you written?

FeDYA. What have I written?... [Takes the letter and is about to tear it up] It's no longer wanted now.

MaSHA [s.n.a.t.c.hes the letter] You've said you would kill yourself? Yes?

You did not mention the revolver--only said that you'd kill yourself?

FeDYA. Yes, that I should be no more.

MaSHA. Give it me--give it, give it!... Have you read _What to Do_?

FeDYA. I think I have.

MaSHA. It's a tiresome novel, but there's one very, very good thing in it. That what's his name?--Rakhmanov--goes and pretends he has drowned himself. And you--can you swim?

FeDYA. No.

MaSHA. That's all right. Let me have your clothes--everything, and your pocket-book too.

FeDYA. How can I?

MaSHA. Wait a bit, wait, wait! Let's go home; then you'll change your clothes.

FeDYA. But it will be a fraud.

MaSHA. All right! You go to bathe, your clothes remain on the bank, in the pocket is your pocket-book and this letter.

FeDYA. Yes, and then?

MaSHA. And then? Why, then we'll go off together and live gloriously.

Enter Ivan Petrovich.

IVaN PETRoVICH. There now! And the revolver? I'll take it.

MaSHA. Take it; take it! We're off.

Curtain.

SCENE 2

The Protasovs' drawing-room.

KAReNIN. He promised so definitely, that I am sure he will keep his word.

LISA. I am ashamed to say it, but I must confess that what I heard about that gipsy girl makes me feel quite free. Don't think it is jealousy; it isn't, but you know--it sets me free. I hardly know how to tell you....

KAReNIN. You don't know how to tell me ... Why?

LISA [smiling] Never mind! Only let me explain what I feel. The chief thing that tormented me was, that I felt I loved two men; and that meant that I was an immoral woman.

KAReNIN. _You_ immoral?

LISA. But since I knew that he had got someone else, and that he therefore did not need me, I felt free, and felt that I might truthfully say that I love you. Now things are clear within me, and only my position torments me. This divorce! It is such torture--and then this waiting!

KAReNIN. It will soon, very soon, be settled. Besides his promise, I sent my secretary to him with the pet.i.tion ready for signature, and told him not to leave till it is signed. If I did not know him so well, I should think he was purposely behaving as he does.

LISA. He? No, it is the result both of his weakness and his honesty. He doesn't want to say what is not true. Only you were wrong to send him money.

KAReNIN. I had to. The want of it might be the cause of the delay.

LISA. No, there is something bad about money.

KAReNIN. Well, anyhow, _he_ need not have been so punctilious ...

LISA. How selfish we are becoming!

KAReNIN. Yes, I confess it. It's your own fault. After all that waiting, that hopelessness, I am now so happy! And happiness makes one selfish.

It's your fault!

LISA. Do you think it's you only? I too--I feel full of happiness, bathed in bliss! I have everything--Misha has recovered, your mother likes me, and you--and above all, I, I love!

KAReNIN. Yes? And no repenting? No turning back?

LISA. Since that day everything has changed in me.

KAReNIN. And will not change again?