LUKÉRYA. [Glancing towards the window] He's coming, Tánya; he's coming! [Both run out of the room.
KRASNÓV. Where so suddenly? What are you running after?
LUKÉRYA. What do you mean? Recollect yourself. We must be courteous and go to meet him. [They go out.
AFÓNYA. Brother! You drove sister away. Whether right or not, let God judge you! But I tell you, you'd better watch the gentleman.
KRASNÓV. What the deuce have you got to do with this? You hiss like a snake. You want to wound me. Get out of here! Go, I tell you, or I'll kill you.
AFÓNYA. Well, kill! My life isn't very sweet to me, and I haven't long to live, anyway. But don't be blind! Don't be blind! [Goes out.
KRASNÓV. What are they doing to me? Must I really be on my guard, or are they just frightening me? Where then is love! Is it possible, Lord, that I have taken unto me not a joy but a torture! Rouse yourself, Lev Rodionych, rouse yourself. Hearken not to the fiend. You have one joy—he's seizing it, and draining your heart. You will ruin your whole life! You will perish for no cause. All those are slanderous words. They're spiteful because my wife is good, and we get along together—so they begin to stir up trouble. That's clearly seen. It's so in every family. The best way is to drop it and not think about it. The gentleman will have to be gotten rid of; I must see that he never looks our way any more. "Come oftener," I'll tell him, "we like it better when you aren't here." So there'll be less talk and my heart will be calmer.
Enter BABÁYEV, TATYÁNA, and LUKÉRYA.
SCENE IV
BABÁYEV, KRASNÓV, TATYÁNA, and LUKÉRYA