Works of Ivan Turgenev (Illustrated) (397 page)

RAKITIN
[with a smile].
I hear, madam.

NATALYA PETROVNA
[looking at him].
I don’t know what you feel but I desire no other happiness. Many women might envy me.
[Holds out both hands to him.]
Mightn’t they?

RAKITIN. I’m in your hands.... Do with me what you will. . . .
[The voice of
ISLAYEV
from the outer room:
‘So you’ve sent for him, have you?’]

NATALYA PETROVNA
[getting up quickly].
Arkady! I can’t see him just now. . . . Good - bye!
[Goes out by door on right.]

RAKITIN
[looking after her].
What does it mean? The beginning of the end, or the end?
[d brief pause.]
Or the beginning?

[Enter
ISLAYEV
looking worried.]

ISLAYEV
[taking off his hat].
Good afternoon, Michel. RAKITIN. We’ve seen each other already to - day. ISLAYEV. Oh! I beg your pardon. . . . I’ve had so much to see to. ...
[Walks up and down the room.]
It’s a queer thing! The Russian peasant is very intelligent, very quick of understanding, I’ve a respect for the Russian peasant ... and yet sometimes, you may talk to him, and explain away. . . . It’s clear enough you’d think, but it’s all no use at all. The Russian peasant hasn’t that. . . that . . .

RAKITIN. You’re still busy with the dam, are you?

ISLAYEV. That ... so to speak . . . love for work . . . that’s just it, he has no love for it. He won’t let you tell him what you think properly. ‘Yes, Sir.’ . . . Yes, indeed, when he hasn’t taken in a word. Look at a German now, it’s quite a different thing! The Russian has no patience. For all that, I have a respect for him.... Where’s Natasha? Do you know?

RAKITIN. She was here just now.

ISLAYEV. What time is it? Surely, dinner - time. I’ve been on my feet all day -
 
- such a lot to do. ... And I haven’t been to the building yet. . . . The time goes so fast. It’s dreadful! One’s simply behindhand with everything -
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
- [RAKITIN
smiles.]
You’re laughing at me, I see. . . . But I can’t help it, old man. People are different. I’m a practical man, born to look after my land -
 
- and nothing else. There was a time when I dreamed of other things; but I burnt my fingers -
 
- I can tell you -
 
- came to grief, you know. Why isn’t Beliayev here?

RAKITIN. Who’s Beliayev?

ISLAYEV. Our new teacher. He’s a shy bird, but he’ll get used to us. He has a head on his shoulders. I asked him to see how the building was going on to - day....
[Enter
BELIAYEV.] Oh, here he is! Well, how are they getting on? Doing nothing, I expect?

BELIAYEV. No, Sir, they are working.

ISLAYEV. Have they finished the framing of the second barn?

BELIAYEV. They have begun the third.

ISLAYEV. And did you speak to them about the beams?

BELIAYEV. Yes.

ISLAYEV. Well, what did they say?

BELIAYEV. They say that’s how they always do it.

ISLAYEV. Hm. ... Is Yermil the carpenter there?

BELIAYEV. Yes.

ISLAYEV. Ah! well, thanks!
[Enter
NATALYA.] Ah! Natasha! Good afternoon.

RAKITIN. Why twenty greetings to each of us to - day?

ISLAYEV. I tell you, I’m tired out with all I’ve had to see to. Oh! by the way. I haven’t shown you my new winnowing machine, have I? Do come along, it’s worth seeing. It’s marvellous, a whirlwind, a regular whirlwind. We’ve time before dinner. . . . What do you say?

RAKITIN. Oh, by all means.

ISLAYEV. Won’t you come with us, Natasha?

NATALYA PETROVNA. As though I know anything about your machines! You go by yourselves -
 
- and mind you’re not late.

ISLAYEV
[going out with
RAKITIN]. We’ll be back immediately.

[BELIAYEV
is about to follow them.]

NATALYA PETROVNA
[to
BELIAYEV]. Where are you going, Alexey Nikolaitch?

BELIAYEV. I ... I. ...

NATALYA PETROVNA. Of course go, if you want a walk. . . .

BELIAYEV. Why no, I’ve been out of doors all the morning.

NATALYA PETROVNA. Well, then, sit down. ... Sit here.
[Motions him to a chair.]
We have not had a proper talk, Alexey Nikolaitch. We have not made friends yet. [BELIAYEV
bows and sits down.]
I want to get to know you.

BELIAYEV. I’m . . . it’s very kind of you.

NATALYA PETROVNA
[with a smile].
You are afraid of me, I see ... but wait a little, you won’t be afraid of me, when you know me. Tell me . .. tell me now how old are you?

BELIAYEV. Twenty - one.

NATALYA PETROVNA. Are your parents living?

BELIAYEV. My mother is dead, my father is living.

NATALYA PETROVNA. Has your mother been dead long?

BELIAYEV. Yes, a long time.

NATALYA PETROVNA. But you remember her?

BELIAYEV. Oh yes ... I remember her.

NATALYA PETROVNA. And does your father live in Moscow?

BELIAYEV. Oh no, in the country.

NATALYA PETROVNA. And have you any brothers and sisters?

BELIAYEV. One sister. NATALYA PETROVNA. Are you fond of her? BELIAYEV. Yes. She’s much younger than I am. NATALYA PETROVNA. And what’s her name? BELIAYEV. Natalya.

NATALYA PETROVNA
[eagerly].
Natalya! How odd! I’m Natalya too! . . .
[Pauses.]
And you are very fond of her?

BELIAYEV. Yes.

NATALYA PETROVNA. Tell me what do you think of my Kolya?

BELIAYEV. He is a dear boy.

NATALYA PETROVNA. He is, isn’t he? And so affectionate. He’s devoted to you already.

BELIAYEV. I’ll do my best. . . . I’m glad.

NATALYA PETROVNA. You see, Alexey Nikolaitch, of of course I should like to make him a thoroughly able man -
 
- I don’t know whether I shall succeed in that, but anyway I want him to look back on his childhood with pleasure. Let him grow up in freedom, that’s the great thing. I was brought up very differently, Alexey Nikolaitch; my father was not an unkind man, but he was stern and irritable; everyone in the house, including my mother, was afraid of him. My brother and I used to cross ourselves in terror whenever we were summoned to his room. Sometimes my father would pet me, but even in his arms I was in a panic. My brother grew up, and you may perhaps have heard of his rupture with my father. ... I shall never forget that awful day. ... I remained an obedient daughter up to my father’s death. . . . He used to call me his consolation, his Antigone (he was blind for some years before his death) ... but however tender he was he could never make me forget those early impressions. ... I was afraid of him, a blind old man, and never felt at ease in his presence. The traces of timidity, of those years of repression, haven’t perhaps quite disappeared even now.... I know that at first sight I seem ... how shall I say? . . . frigid, perhaps. . . . But I notice I’m talking to you about myself, instead of talking about Kolya. I only meant to say that I know from my own experience how good it is for a child to grow up in freedom. You now, I imagine, have never been repressed as a child, have you?

BELIAYEV. I don’t know really. . . . Of course nobody repressed me, nobody bothered about me.

NATALYA PETROVNA
[shyly].
Why, didn’t your father....

BELIAYEV. He’d no time to spare. He was always going round among the neighbours ... on business ... or if not business exactly. . . . He got his living through them, in a way. . . . By his services. . . .

NATALYA PETROVNA. Oh! So then nobody troubled about bringing you up?

BELIAYEV. As a matter of fact, nobody did. I dare say that’s evident though, I’m only too aware of my defects.

NATALYA PETROVNA. Perhaps ... but on the other hand. . . .
[Checks herself and adds in some embarrassment.]
Oh, by the way, Alexey Nikolaitch, was that you singing in the garden yesterday?

BELIAYEV. When?

NATALYA PETROVNA. In the evening ... by the pond . .. was it you?

BELIAYEV. Yes.
[Hurriedly.]
I didn’t think . . . the pond is such a long way off. ... I didn’t think it could be heard from here.

NATALYA PETROVNA. Are you apologizing? You have a very pleasant musical voice and you sing so well. You have studied music?

BELIAYEV. No, not at all. I only sing by ear ... only simple songs.

NATALYA PETROVNA. You sing them capitally. ... I’ll ask you some time . . . not just now, but when we know each other better, when we are friends. . . . We are going to be friends, Alexey Nikolaitch, aren’t we? I feel confidence in you; the way I’ve been chattering is a proof of it. . . .
[She holds out her hand for him to shake hands.
BELIAYEV
takes it irresolutely and after some hesitation, not knowing what to do with the hand, kisses it.
NATALYA PETROVNA
flushes and draws away her hand. At that moment
SHPIGELSKY
comes in from the outer room, stops short, then takes a step forward,
NATALYA PETROVNA
gets up quickly,
BELIAYEV
does the same.]
NATALYA PETROVNA
[embarrassed].
Oh, it’s you, Doctor . . . here Alexey Nikolaitch and I have been having

. . .
[Stops.]

SHPIGELSKY
[in a loud, free and easy voice].
Really, Natalya Petrovna, the goings on in your house! I walk into the servants’ hall and ask for the sick coachman, and my patient is sitting at the table gobbling up pancake and onion. Much good it is being a doctor and relying on illness for getting a living.

NATALYA PETROVNA
[with a constrained smile].
Really. [BELIAYEV
is about to go away.]
Alexey Nikolaitch, I forgot to tell you . . .

VERA
[running in from the outer room].
Alexey Nikolaitch! Alexey Nikolaitch!
[She stops abruptly at the sight of
NATALYA PETROVNA.]

NATALYA PETROVNA
[with some surprise].
What is it?

What do you want?