SCENE IV
The same, POTÁPYCH and NÁDYA
MADAM ULANBÉKOV. Nadezhda! Vasilísa PEREGRÍNOVNA says she saw you in the garden last night with the master. Is that so? [NÁDYA is silent] You're silent, that means it's true. Well, now, you can thank yourself. I'm not a conniver at loose conduct, and I won't endure it in my house. I can't turn you out as a vagabond, that would weigh upon my conscience. I am obliged to marry you off. [To POTÁPYCH] Send to town and tell NEGLIGÉNTOV that I shall marry Nádya to him; and let the wedding be just as soon as possible.
[She rises from her chair and is about to leave].
NÁDYA. [Falling at her feet] Whatever you wish, only not marriage with him!
MADAM ULANBÉKOV. Fiddlesticks! What I have once said is sacred. And what do you mean by this scene? Can't you see that I'm not well? To keep on plaguing me! Potápych! She has no father; you be a father to her instead; and impress upon her in fatherly fashion the baseness of her conduct, and the fact that she must obey my commands.
POTÁPYCH. You listen, Nadezhda, to what the mistress commands! Because when she intrusts you to me, it means that I must show my authority over you. If you command it, mistress, I can at once, in your presence, give her some moral instruction with my own hand! Here, if you dare to say one tiny word to the contrary, I'll drag you off by the hair, no matter what any one says.
[He raises his hand threateningly.]
NÁDYA. Oh!… [She crouches.]
MADAM ULANBÉKOV. Don't strike her! What disgusting scenes!
POTÁPYCH. But, mistress! You can't get results by talking! Besides, if I'm her father, that's the regular thing! That's the law, and according to that, since she is rebelling against you now, I ought to give you that satisfaction.
NÁDYA. [Weeping] Mistress, don't ruin me!
MADAM ULANBÉKOV. Oh, my God! You don't spare me at all. Tears, squabblings! Send for the doctor at once! How many times have I got to say it? It's your own fault, you've nobody to blame for your tears. Potápych! get this business over with! I don't like to repeat the same thing ten times over.
She goes out, GAVRÍLOVNA after her. Silence. GAVRÍLOVNA returns.
GAVRÍLOVNA. She's gone to bed, and banged the door behind her.
POTÁPYCH. [At the window] Antoshka! Antoshka! Post boy! Saddle the horse and ride to town for the doctor. Oh, you! Lord!
NÁDYA. [Rising from her knees] Don't you think it's a sin for you to abuse me, Potápych? What have I ever done to you?
POTÁPYCH. What do I care? What do I care about you? When the mistress really wants something, I have to try to please her in every way; because I was born her servant.
NÁDYA. If she had commanded you to kill me, would you have done it?
POTÁPYCH. That's not my affair, I can't argue about that.
GAVRÍLOVNA. That's enough, Nádya, don't cry! God doesn't abandon orphans.
NÁDYA falls upon GAVRÍLOVNA'S bosom.
LÍZA. [To VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA] Well, is your heart content now?
VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. Wait, my dear, your turn will come.
LEONÍD enters.