Works of Ivan Turgenev (Illustrated) (398 page)

VERA
[blushing and dropping her eyes, indicates
BELIAYEV].

He is wanted.

NATALYA PETROVNA. By whom?

VERA. Kolya . . . that is Kolya asked me . . . about the kite. . ..

NATALYA PETROVNA. Oh!
[Aside to
VERA.] On n’entre pas comme cela dans une chambre. . . . Cela ne convient pas.
[Turning to
SHPIGELSKY.] What time is it, Doctor? Your watch is always right. . . . It’s time for dinner.

SHPIGELSKY. Allow me.
[Takes out his watch.]
It is just... I beg to inform you . . . just exactly twenty minutes past four.

NATALYA PETROVNA. There, you see, it’s dinner - time.
[Goes to the looking - glass and tidies her hair. Meanwhile
VERA
whispers something to
BELIAYEV.
Both laugh.
NATALYA PETROVNA
sees them reflected in the looking - glass.
SHPIGELSKY
gives her a sidelong look.]

BELIAYEV
[laughing, in a low voice].
Really?

VERA
[nodding and speaking in a low voice too].
Yes, yes, she just went flop.

NATALYA PETROVNA
[turning with assumed indifference to
VERA]. What? Who went flop?

VERA
[in confusion].
Oh no ... Alexey Nikolaitch made us a swing, and so nurse took it into her head . . .

NATALYA PETROVNA
[without waiting for her to finish, turns to
SHPIGELSKY]. Oh, by the way, Shpigelsky, come here. . . .
[She draws him aside and speaks again to
VERA.] She wasn’t hurt, I hope?

VERA. Oh, no!

NATALYA PETROVNA. But ... all the same, Alexey Nikolaitch, you shouldn’t have done it.

MATVEY
[enters from the outer room and announces].
Dinner is served.

NATALYA PETROVNA. Ah! But where is Arkady Sergey - itch? They’ll be late again, he and Mihail Alexandritch.

MATVEY. The gentlemen are in the dining - room.

NATALYA PETROVNA. And mother?

MATVEY. Madam is in the dining - room too.

NATALYA PETROVNA. Well, then, come along.
[Motioning to
BELIAYEV.] Vera, allez en avant avec monsieur.

[MATVEY
goes out, followed by
VERA and BELIAYEV. SHPIGELSKY
[to
NATALYA PETROVNA]

You had something to say to me.

NATALYA PETROVNA. Oh yes! To be sure. ... You see ... we’ll have another talk about. ... your proposal. SHPIGELSKY. Concerning . . . Vera Alexandrovna? NATALYA PETROVNA. Yes . . .I will think about it.

I’ll think about it.
[Both go out.]

ACT II

The garden. Seats to Right and to Left under trees; in the
foreground raspberry bushes.
KATYA
and
MATVEY
come
in on Right.
KATYA
has a basket in her hand.

MATVEY. So how is it to be, Katerina Vassilyevna? Kindly explain yourself, I beg you earnestly.

KATYA. Matvey Yegoritch, I really can’t.

MATVEY. You are very well aware, Katerina Vassilyevna, what my feelings, I may say, are for you. To be sure, I’m older than you in years, there’s no denying that, certainly; but I can still hold my own, I’m still in my prime. I’m of mild disposition, as you are aware; I should like to know what more you want?

KATYA. Matvey Yegoritch, believe me, I feel it very much, I’m very grateful, Matvey Yegoritch. . . . But you see ... Better wait a bit, I think.

MATVEY. But, dear me, what is there to wait for, Katerina Vassilyevna? You used not to say that, allow me to tell you. And as for consideration, I can answer for that, I believe I may say -
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
- You couldn’t ask for more consideration than you will get from me, Katerina Vassilyevna. And I’m not given to drink, and I never hear a word of blame from the master and mistress either.

KATYA. Really, Matvey Yegoritch, I don’t know what to say. . . .

MATVEY. Ah, Katerina Vassilyeina, something’s come over you lately. . . .

KATYA
[blushing a little].
Lately? Why lately?

MATVEY. I don’t know . . . but there was a time when you didn’t treat me like this.

KATYA
[glancing hurriedly behind the scene].
Mind.... The German’s coming.

MATVEY
[with annoyance].
Bother him, the long - nosed crane! ... I must talk to you again.
[He goes out to
Right.
KATYA
is moving towards the raspberries. Enter
SCHAAF
from
the Left with a fishing - rod on his shoulder.]

SCHAAF
[calling after
KATYA]. Vere you go, vere you go,

Katerin?

KATYA
[stopping].
We’ve been told to pick raspberries, Adam Ivanitch.

SCHAAF. Raspberries? . . . The raspberry is a pleasant fruit. You love raspberries?

KATYA. Yes, I like them.

SCHAAF. He ... he! And I do too! I love all that you love.
[Seeing that she is going.]
Oh, Katerin, vait a leetle.

KATYA. I’ve no time to spare. The housekeeper will scold me.

SCHAAF. Oh! That’s nothing. You see I’m going . . .
[Points to the rod]
how do you say ... to feesh, you understand, to feesh, that is, to catch feesh. You love feesh?

KATYA. Yes.

SCHAAF. He, he, I do too, I do too. Do you know vhat I vill tell you, Katerin. There’s a song in German:
[Sings]
Katrinchen, Katrinchen, wie lieb ich dich so sehr! that is, in Russian, O Katrinushka, Katrinushka, you are so pretty I love you!
[Tries to put one arm round her.]

KATYA. Give over, give over, for shame. . . . Here’s the mistress coming!
[Escapes into the raspberry patch.]

SCHAAF
[assuming a glum expression, aside].
Das ist dumm. . . .

[Enter on Right
NATALYA PETROVNA,
arm in arm with
RAKITIN.]

NATALYA PETROVNA
[to
SCHAAF]. Ah! Adam Ivanitch! Are you going fishing? SCHAAF. Yes, madam. NATALYA PETROVNA. Where’s Kolya?

SCHAAF. With Lizaveta Bogdanovna . . . the music lesson.

NATALYA PETROVNA. Ah!
[Looking round.]
You are alone here?

SCHAAF. Yes.

NATALYA PETROVNA. You haven’t seen Alexey Nikolai then?

SCHAAF. No, madam.

NATALYA PETROVNA
[after a pause].
We’ll go with you, Adam Ivanitch, shall we? We’ll look on while you fish.

SCHAAF. I am very glad.

RAKITIN
[aside to
NATALYA PETROVNA]. What possesses you?

NATALYA PETROVNA. Come along, come along, beau ténébreux.

[All three go out on Right.]

KATYA
[cautiously raising her head above the raspberries].
They’ve gone. . . .
[Comes out, stops for a little and ponders.]
That German! . . .
[Sighs and begins picking raspberrits again, singing in a low voice.]

‘No fire is burning, no ember is glowing, But the wild heart is glowing, is burning.’

Yes, Matvey Yegoritch is right!
[Goes on singing.]

‘But the wild heart is glowing, is burning, Not for father dear, not for mother dear. . . .’

What big raspberries! . . .
[Goes on singing.]

‘Not for father dear, not for mother dear.’ How hot it is! Stifling. . . .
[Goes on singing.]

‘Not for father dear, not for mother dear, It glows and it burns for. . . .’

[Suddenly turns round; is quiet and half hides behind the bushes. From Left
BELIAYEV
and
VERA
come in;
BELIAYEV
has a kite in his hand.]

BELIAYEV
[as he passes the raspberries, to
KATYA]. Why have you stopped, Katya?
[Sings.]

‘It glows and it burns for a maiden so fair.’

KATYA
[blushing].
That’s not how we sing it.

BELIAYEV. How then? [KATYA
laughs and does not answer.’]
What are you doing? Picking raspberries? Let

us taste them.

KATYA
[giving him the basket].
Take them all.

BELIAYEV. Why all? . . . Vera Alexandrovna, won’t you have some? [VERA
takes some from the basket, and he does so too.]
Well, that’s enough.
[Is giving back the basket

to
KATYA.]

KATYA
[putting back his hand].
Take them, take them

all.

BELIAYEV. No, thanks, Katya.
[Gives her the basket.]
Thank you.
[To
VERA.] Vera Alexandrovna, let’s sit down on this seat. You see
[Showing the kite]
we must fasten the tail on. You’ll help me.
[They go and sit down on the seat.
BELIAYEV
puts the kite in her hands.]
That’s it. Mind now, hold it straight.
[Begins to tie on the tail.]
What’s the matter?

VERA. I can’t see you. BELIAYEV. Why must you see me? VERA. I mean I want to see how you fix the tail on. BELIAYEV. Oh -
 
- wait a minute.
[Arranges the kite so that she can see him.]
Katya, why aren’t you singing? Sing.
[After a brief interval
KATYA
begins singing in a low voice.]
VERA. Tell me, Alexey Nikolaitch, do you sometimes fly kites in Moscow too?

BELIAYEV. I’ve no time for kites in Moscow! Hold the string, that’s right. Do you suppose we’ve nothing else to do in Moscow?

VERA. What do you do in Moscow?

BELIAYEV. What do we do? We study, listen to the professors.

VERA. What do they teach you?

BELIAYEV. Everything.

VERA. I expect you’re a very good student. Better than all the rest.

BELIAYEV. No, I’m not very good. Better than all the rest, indeed! I’m lazy.

VERA. Why are you lazy?

BELIAYEV. Goodness knows! I was born so, apparently.

VERA
[after a pause].
Have you any friends in Moscow?

BELIAYEV. Of course. ... I say, this string isn’t strong enough.

VERA. And are you fond of them?

BELIAYEV. I should think so. Aren’t you fond of your friends?

VERA. I haven’t any.

BELIAYEV. I meant the girls you know.

VERA
[slowly].
Yes.

BELIAYEV. I suppose you have some girl - friends?

VERA. Yes . . . only I don’t know why ... for some time past I’ve not thought much about them. ... I haven’t even answered Lisa Moshnin, though she begged me to in her letter.

BELIAYEV. How can you say you have no friends . . . what am I?

VERA
[with a smile].
Oh, you ... that’s a different thing.
[After a pause],
Alexey Nikolaitch.

BELIAYEV. Well?

VERA. Do you write poetry?

BELIAYEV. No. . . . Why?

VERA. Oh, nothing.
[After a pause]
A girl in our school used to write poetry.

BELIAYEV
[pulling the knot with his teeth].
Did she? Was it good?

VERA. I don’t know. She used to read it to us, and we cried.

BELIAYEV. What did you cry for?

VERA. Pity. We were all so sorry for her.

BELIAYEV. Were you educated in Moscow?

VERA. Yes, at Madame Beauluce’s school in Moscow. Natalya Petrovna took me away last year.

BELIAYEV. Are you fond of Natalya Petrovna?

VERA. Yes, she’s so kind. I’m very fond of her.

BELIAYEV
[with a smile].
And you’re afraid of her, I bet.

VERA
[also with a smile].
A little.