Plays

of which is a boat. Starry night. A choral song is hea

EN

NáDYA

doing? When the mistress hears of t

re afraid, tak

me, my girl, it's awful, no matter what you

ame tune! If you fear the w

u didn't talk like this. You used to hide your

ut marry the man she said to marry, just then my whole heart revolted. "Oh, Lord, what a life for me!" I thought. [She weeps] What's the use in my living purely, guarding myself not merely from every word, but even from ever

y, I really thought you were

ke a bird, suddenly you're fascinated by some man, he makes love to you, comes to see you often, kisses you.... You're abashed before him, yet happy to see him. That's the way it always is. Although you may not be rich; although it may be you have to sit with your lover in the servants' room; y

turally,

ou think how that horrid man will make fun of you, will bully you, show his authority, will begin to ruin your life, all for nothing! You grow old by his

be better if you hadn't sp

he prude with me? What would you do your

ld I know? Of course, what shall

n such thoughts came into my head, and, Líza, when I began to think about the master-then how dear he became to me!.... so dear

Just think of it; s

rdly wait till night! It seems as if I could fly to him on wings! The one thing that I have in mind is that, at any rate, I am not a pretty girl for nothing; I shall have something by which to

, Nádya? You seem

en she began to command me, like a doll; when I saw that I was to have no will of my own, and no protection, then, Líza, despair fell upon me. What became of my fear, of my shame-I don'

nk the mast

om the opposite

Líza, isn't h

re either sick or ha

EN

me and

was thinking you would d

y did you

see, you said yo

n't you believe them. How could one

He takes her hand, for a short

hand] Oh! why did you do that? Dea

e you ever so

Well, then, you mi

I, Nádya? Wi

at's the

about] Oh, and yo

, I'm going ...

idn't mean that. Where

't dodge. We

out behind

kiss you? [He kisses her timidl

] No, no, how could yo

ou what, you are the most pr

s that r

, no one ever l

ren't yo

ruly, no one has ever lo

ear; I believe

go sit down

let's. [Th

y do you t

Am I tr

D. Yo

must be that I f

th one side of his cloak, embracing her as he hol

let's sit thi

to talk about? I shall s

ove

l say it, and

t tired of one an

ll get tired of i

I love you, little Nádya.

that? Just sit quietl

it like this, with

htingale is singing in the thicket. Sit

. Like

I could sit here all my life and listen. What

ear, that would

t I, you see, am ready to sit out the whole night, to look at you, wit

ends her head, and then looks

ice to go rowing; it is w

d almost mechanical

little island. It is so pleasant there, on the i

a revery]

ere? I told you;

er. I was thinking and didn't hear

r head upon

y, let's go

u please! Even to the end of the world! If

seems as if I must burst out crying, just to loo

This is awful, simply awful! At night, in the garden, and all alone, too! What a fix for me-afraid of everything, and.... [She glances about her] Heavens, this is deadly! If there were

NE

at, and with a cane, somewhat tipsy; GAVRíLOVNA in

ss!... Here, we asked if we could go to the fair, and she said to go along.... But what they sa

Potápych? You and I are not y

ave models for everything, Gavrílovna. Whatever models a perso

sha go? She said she wouldn't; well,

s account a while ago ... she stirred me up a lot, but I don't

s the use of watching them? Are they all babies? Every person has his own brains in his head. Let every one think for himself. All you need to do is to look out for the five-year-olds, that they do

[Sighs] A

ery step. As it is, it's simply awful! Nobody trusts them at all; it's just as if they

. But yo

l do, Potápych! You're used to saying over other peop

on't know ... I d

e's the most sin. You ought to reason like a human being. No matter if our masters pay money for their wits while we have only what we're born with, we have our own way of thinking, all the same. It'

e ... what can I answer to

VNA. We

hing about it, because it isn't my bus

d idiot! You've lost yo

lady's kindness, now in her employ ... I c

She may have thought up somethi

y go

EN

otten about me! But, then, why should they remember me? Saints alive, it'll soon be daylight.

ILíSA PER

EN

ASILíSA PE

NA. What are you do

ou see? I'm t

How can I help it? But what

we go walking at night. But I am surprised at you! Don't you walk enough dayti

. Just like what?...

at? Oh,

ou said, "Just like" ... wel

said wha

o, don't you dare sneak

to it? All right, I'll

ssy, ha? What's this! You want to push me alive into the grave! But I'll find you

to! And even if I had, it's none of your business! It's shameful for you even to speak of it.

perch pretty soon! You're not going to roam about at night for nothing. I know your tricks. I

myself bowing before

No, now I'm going to

. Do

oks about on both sides,

t to have thought to take a guitar along and sing love-songs!... They're kissing each other! Very good! Delightful! Again! Excellent! What could be better? Ph

ht her here? You can't

ch the shore and dis

EN

áDYA, a

you done, what h

her, softly to LEONíD]

D. I

the matter, d

ome, I'll send a no

íD.

, good-by.

Loudly]

LEONíD sits down upon the

egrínovna saw you

ll, deuce

l, don't carry yo

him] Oh, Nádya, what a vile,

hat do y

Nádya! [He whis

ead? I'm not sorry for this, but you are. How kind you are! Now, good-by! It's

Good-b

separate. NáDYA returns, overtak

Do you

o love you,

go out in diffe