SCENE VI
LÍZA, NÁDYA, and LEONÍD
LÍZA. What have you done, what have you done!…
NÁDYA. [Not listening to her, softly to LEONÍD] You will come to-morrow?
LEONÍD. I will.
LÍZA. What's the matter, don't you hear?
NÁDYA. If I can't come, I'll send a note somehow or other.
LEONÍD. Good!
NÁDYA. Well, good-by. [They kiss.
LÍZA. [Loudly] Nádya!
NÁDYA. [Goes up to LÍZA. LEONÍD sits down upon the bench] What's the matter?
LÍZA. Vasilísa Peregrínovna saw you rowing on the pond.
NÁDYA. Well, deuce take her!
LÍZA. My dear girl, don't carry your head too high!
LEONÍD. Nádya! [NÁDYA goes to him] Oh, Nádya, what a vile, good-for-nothing fellow I am!
NÁDYA. What do you mean?
LEONÍD. Little Nádya! [He whispers in her ear.
NÁDYA. [Shakes her head] Oh, my precious darling, why did that come into your head? I'm not sorry for this, but you are. How kind you are! Now, good-by! It's high time. I shouldn't leave you, but I can't help it; I'm not my own mistress.
LEONÍD. Good-by, then!
Slowly, as if unwillingly, they separate. NÁDYA returns, overtakes LEONÍD and gazes into his eyes.
NÁDYA. Do you love me?
LEONÍD. I do love you, indeed I do!
[They kiss and go out in different directions.
IV
Same room as in second picture
SCENE I[1]
[Footnote 1: The whole scene in a whisper.]
POTÁPYCH is leaning against the door-jamb, his hand to his head. VASILÍSA
PEREGRÍNOVNA enters quietly.
VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. Result of yesterday evening, I suppose, my friend?
POTÁPYCH. Wha-a-t?
VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. Your head aches.
POTÁPYCH. Did you put up the money?
VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. You haven't any money for anything else; but you have for such things.
POTÁPYCH. Well, anyhow, it ain't your business.
VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. Of course, Potápych, you're an old man, why shouldn't you take a drink once in a while?
POTÁPYCH. Sure, I guess I work for it.
VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. Just so, Potápych!
POTÁPYCH. I'm tired of being lectured by you!
VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. I wish you well, Potápych.
POTÁPYCH. No need for it! [Silence] But you keep upsetting the mistress so! If you'd only put in a word for us when she's in a good humor; but you just look for the wrong time, in order to complain of us.
VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. What do you say, Potápych? God preserve me!
POTÁPYCH. What's that! No matter how much you swear, I know you! For instance, why are you coming to the mistress now?
VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. To wish the benefactress good morning.
POTÁPYCH. You'd better not come.
VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. Why so?
POTÁPYCH. It must be she got out the wrong side of bed; she's out of sorts. [VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA rubs her hands with pleasure] Here now, I see that you're happy; you're dying for some deviltry or other. Phew! Lord forgive us! What a disposition!
VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. You are saying insulting words to me, Potápych, insulting to my very heart. When did I ever say anything about you to the mistress?
POTÁPYCH. If not about me, then about somebody else.
VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. But that's my business.
POTÁPYCH. Your spite's always getting in its work.
VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. Not spite, not spite, my friend! You're mistaken! I have just been so insulted that it's impossible to live in this world after it. I shall die, but I shall not forget.
MADAM ULANBÉKOV enters. POTÁPYCH goes out.