SCENE II
MADAM ULANBÉKOV and VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA
VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. [Kissing both of MADAM ULANBÉKOV'S hands] You have risen early, benefactress. You must have an awful lot of things on your mind.
MADAM ULANBÉKOV. [Sitting down] I didn't sleep much. I had a bad dream.
VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. What, a dream, benefactress? The dream may be terrible, but God is merciful. Not the dream, but what is going on in reality, disturbs you, benefactress. I see that; I've seen it a long time.
MADAM ULANBÉKOV. Bah, what is it to me what's going on?
VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. Why, benefactress, don't we know that your son, dear little soul! is struck with every creature he meets?
MADAM ULANBÉKOV. You make me tired.
VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. I'm so sorry for you, benefactress! Don't look for any consolation in this life! You scatter benefactions upon every one; but how do they repay you? The world is full of lust.
MADAM ULANBÉKOV. Go away!
VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. [Weeping] I can't keep back my tears when I look at you! My heart bleeds that they don't respect you, that they don't respect you even in your own house! In your honorable house, in such pious premises as these, to do such things!
MADAM ULANBÉKOV. [Frowning] You silly crow! You want to croak about something or other. Well, croak away!
VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. Benefactress, I'm afraid it might upset you.
MADAM ULANBÉKOV. You've upset me already. Talk!
VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. [Glances about in all directions and sits down on a stool at the feet of MADAM ULANBÉKOV] Yesterday, benefactress, I was ending my evening prayer to the Heavenly Creator, and went out to stroll in the garden, and to occupy myself for the night with pious meditations.
MADAM ULANBÉKOV. Well!
VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. And what did I see there, benefactress! How my legs held me up, I don't know! That Líza of yours was running through the bushes with a depraved look; it must be she was seeking her lovers. Our master, the little angel! was rowing in the boat on the pond, and Nádya, also with a depraved expression, was clinging to him with her arms about his neck, and was kissing him. And it was easy to see that he, because of his purity, was trying to thrust her away; but she kept clasping him about the neck, kissing and tempting him.
MADAM ULANBÉKOV. Are you lying?
VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. You may quarter me, benefactress.
MADAM ULANBÉKOV. It's enough if there is one grain of truth in your words.
VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. It's all true, benefactress.
MADAM ULANBÉKOV. Fiddlesticks! not all—it can't be! You always make up more than half. But where were the servants?
VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. All of them, benefactress, were more or less drunk. No sooner had you gone to bed, than they all went to the fair and got tipsy. Gavrílovna, Potápych, all were drunk. What an example to the young!
MADAM ULANBÉKOV. This must be looked into thoroughly. Of course, I shouldn't have expected the least mischief of Leoníd. Quiet lads like him! Well, if he'd been a soldier, it would be pardonable; but as it is…. [She muses.
VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. And furthermore, benefactress, so far Grísha hasn't come back from the fair.
MADAM ULANBÉKOV. How's that? He didn't sleep at home?
VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. He did not, benefactress!
MADAM ULANBÉKOV. You lie, you lie, you lie! I'll drive you off the place!
VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. May I die in my tracks!
MADAM ULANBÉKOV. [Sinking back in her chair] You want to kill me. [Raising herself from the chair] You simply want to kill me. [She rings. Enter POTÁPYCH] Where's Grísha?
POTÁPYCH. Just came, ma'am.
MADAM ULANBÉKOV. Send him here! [POTÁPYCH goes out] This certainly beats all!
VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. You'll not find anybody more devoted than I, benefactress; only I am unhappy in one respect: that my disposition displeases you.
Enter GRÍSHA, his hair tousled and dishevelled.