Four Plays | Page 9

come.
MADAM ULANB��KOV. Oh, be still! What are you thinking up now? Why, he's only a child!
VASIL��SA PEREGR��NOVNA. A child, benefactress! Well, there's nothing more to be said; God gave you a son as a joy and a consolation. And we can never feast our eyes enough on him. It's just as if the sunshine had come into our house. So good-natured, so merry, so gentle with every one! But he's already running after the girls so; he never lets one pass; and they, silly things, are tickled to death; they fairly snort with delight.
MADAM ULANB��KOV. You're lying. He never has a chance to see the girls anywhere, I think; all day long they are in their own side of the house, and, besides, they never go anywhere.
VASIL��SA PEREGR��NOVNA. Ah, benefactress, there are no locks to keep a girl in, once she takes a notion to do something.
MADAM ULANB��KOV. You hear, Gavr��lovna! Look after my girls. You know I won't have any loose conduct. You tell them that so they'll know I mean it. [To VASIL��SA PEREGR��NOVNA] But no, there can't be anything like that. You're merely disturbing me with your silly notions. What a dirty tongue you have! What business had you to chatter? And now I can't get the stuff out of my head! Keep watch, Gavr��lovna!
GAVR��LOVNA. What's the use of listening to her, mistress?
VASIL��SA PEREGR��NOVNA. But really, benefactress, am I saying anything bad? Would I dare to think any harm about him, that little angel? Of course he's still a child, he wants to frisk a little; but here he hasn't any companions, so he plays with the girls.
MADAM ULANB��KOV. There's poison on your tongue. [She reflects. POT��PYCH takes the cups. GAVR��LOVNA fills them and gives them back. GR��SHA _comes in from the garden, gives_ GAVR��LOVNA _a push, and makes a sign with his head that she is to pour him another cup_. GAVR��LOVNA does so. GR��SHA _goes out_] However, I must marry off N��dya.
N��DYA. [_Almost weeping_] Mistress, you have shown me such kindness that I can't even express it. Forgive me for daring to speak to you now; but, because of your attitude towards me, I expected quite a different favor from you. In what respect have I displeased you now, mistress, that you wish to marry me to a drunkard?
MADAM ULANB��KOV. My dear, it's not for you to argue about that; you're just a girl. You ought to rely in all things upon me, your patroness. I brought you up, and I am even bound to establish you in life. And again, you ought not to forget this: that he is my godson. Rather, you ought to be thankful for the honor. And now I tell you once and for all: I do not like it when my girls argue, I simply do not like it, and that's all there is to it. That's a thing I cannot permit anybody. I've been accustomed, from my youth, to having people obey my every word; it's time you knew that! And it's very strange to me, my dear, that you should presume to oppose me. I see that I have spoiled you; and you at once get conceited. [N��DYA _weeps._
VASIL��SA PEREGR��NOVNA. Benefactress, one must have feeling for his fellow creature, one must have feeling. But what kind of feelings can such as they have, save ingratitude?
MADAM ULANB��KOV. No one's talking to you! What are you mixing into everything for? [To N��DYA, _sternly_] What new tale is this? Still crying! Let's have no more tears! [N��DYA _weeps_] I'm talking to you. [_Rising slightly_] Your tears mean absolutely nothing to me! When I make up my mind to do a thing, I take a firm stand, and listen to no one on earth! [_She sits down_] And know, first of all, that your obstinacy will lead to nothing; you will simply anger me.
N��DYA. [_Weeping_] I'm an orphan, mistress! Your will must be obeyed!
MADAM ULANB��KOV. Well, I should say! Of course it must; because I brought you up; that's equal to giving you life itself.
LEON��D _enters._

SCENE III
The same and LEON��D
LEON��D. How are you, mamma?
MADAM ULANB��KOV. How are you, my dear? Where have you been?
LEON��D. I went hunting with Pot��pych. I killed two ducks, mamma.
MADAM ULANB��KOV. You don't spare your mother; the idea, going hunting in your state of health! You'll fall sick again, God forbid! and then you'll simply kill me! Ah, my God, how I have suffered with that child! [_She muses._
GAVR��LOVNA. Some tea, master?
LEON��D. No, thanks.
MADAM ULANB��KOV. [To VASIL��SA PEREGR��NOVNA] When he was born, I was ill a very long time. Then he was always sickly, and he grew up puny. How many tears have I shed over him! Sometimes I would just look at him, and my tears would flow; no, it will never be my lot to