PRINCESS. Did Alexándra Ivánovna really go on purpose to fetch Father Gerásim?
MARY IVÁNOVNA. Yes, the idea occurred to her yesterday, and she was off at once.
PRINCESS. Quelle énergie! Je l'admire.[26]
PETER SEMYÓNOVICH. Oh, pour ceci, ce n'est pas ça qui nous manque.[27] [Takes out a cigar] But I will go and have a smoke and take a stroll through the park with the dogs till the young people are up. [Exit].
PRINCESS. I don't know, dear Mary Ivánovna, whether I am right, but it seems to me that you take it all too much to heart. I understand him. He is in a very exalted state of mind. Well, even supposing he does give to the poor? Don't we anyway think too much about ourselves?
MARY IVÁNOVNA. Yes, if that were all, but you don't know him; nor all he is after. It is not simply helping the poor, but a complete revolution, the destruction of everything.
PRINCESS. I do not wish to intrude into your family life, but if you will allow me …
MARY IVÁNOVNA. Not at all—I look upon you as one of the family—especially now.
PRINCESS. I should advise you to put your demands to him openly and frankly, and to come to an agreement as to the limits …
MARY IVÁNOVNA [excitedly] There are no limits! He wants to give away everything. He wishes me now, at my age, to become a cook and a washerwoman.