Works of Ivan Turgenev (Illustrated) (421 page)

Ivanov. But you don’t know these fine Petersburg gentlemen, Vassily Semyonitch.

Kuzovkin. Why, Ivan Kuzmitch, surely they’re not so . . . dreadful?

Ivanov. Simply terrible, I’m told! I don’t know them either, but I’ve heard so.

Kuzovkin [after a moment’s pause]. Well, we shall see. I rely on Olga Petrovna. She’ll take my part.

Ivanov. Take your part! I expect she has completely forgotten you! Why, she was only a child when she went away with her aunt. What was she? Not more than fourteen. You used to play with dolls with her — what does that amount to? She’ll pass by without looking at you.

Kuzovkin. Oh, no, Vanya.

Ivanov. Well, you’ll see.

Kuzovkin. Do stop, Vanya, please.

Ivanov. Well, you will see, Vassily Semyonitch.

Kuzovkin. Leave off, Vanya, really. . . . We’d better have a game of draughts. Shall we? [Ivanov does not speak.] We may as well do something. Come, old man, let us. [Takes the draught - board and begins setting the men.]

Ivanov [also setting the men], A queer time for a game. I must say. The butler won’t allow it, most likely.

Kuzovkin. We’re not in anybody’s way, are we?

Ivanov. Well, the young people will be arriving in a minute.

Kuzovkin. When they come — we’ll leave off. Right or left?

Ivanov. They’ll chase us out, Vassily Semyonitch, you’ll see. Left. You to begin.

Kuzovkin. Well, I’m going to begin like this to - day.

Ivanov. So that’s your move. And I do this.

Kuzovkin. I’ll go there.

Ivanov. And I here.

[Suddenly there is a loud shouting in the hall. The page, Vaska, runs in headlong, shouting: ‘They’re coming! They’re coming! Nartsyss Konstantinitch! They’re coming! they’re coming!’ Kuzovkin and Ivanov jump up.J

Kuzovkin [in great excitement]. Are they coming? Are they coming?

Vaska [shouting]. The messenger has signalled — they’re coming!

[From the drawing - room the voice of Trembinsky is heard: ‘What is it? Are they coming?’ He runs out of the drawing - room with Pyotr.]

Trembinsky [shouting]. The band! Musicians to their places!

[Runs out into the hall followed by Pyotr and Vaska. Masha rushes in from the corridor.]

Masha. Are they coming?

Kuzovkin. Yes, yes.

[Ivanov in acute discomfort effaces himself in the comer. Masha runs into the corridor, calling: ‘They are coming!’ A moment later Praskovya Ivanovna bursts in from the corridor and Trembinsky from the hall.]

Praskovya Ivanovna. Are they coming?

Trembinsky. Call the maids here, the maids!

Praskovya Ivanovna [shouting into the corridor]. Girls! Girls!

Yegor [running in from the hall]. Where’s the bread and salt, Nartsyss Konstantinitch?

Trembinsky [shouting at the top of his voice], Pyotr! Pyotr! The bread and salt! Where’s the bread and salt? [iSV* maidservants, dressed up in their best, come out from the corridor.] Into the hall, girls, into the hall!

[The maids run into the hall, coming into collision with Pyotr in the doorway. He is carrying in both hands a dish with a huge bread ring and a salt - cellar on it.]

Pyotr. Look out, you crazy creatures!

Trembinsky [snatches the dish from Pyotr and puts it into Yegor’s hands]. That’s for you. . . . Go out on the steps, go along! [Pushes him off together with Pyotr and Praskovya Ivanovna, runs after them himself and shouts in the hall: ‘And where are the men - servants . . . send the men here!’]

Voice of Pyotr. Call Anpadist!

Another Voice. The foreman has taken away his boots.

Voice of Trembinsky. The coachmen this way, the coachmen!

Voices of the Maids. They’re coming, they’re coming!

Voice of Trembinsky. Silence now! Silence!

[A complete silence reigns. Kuzovkin, who has throughout this excitement been in a state of great agitation, yet has scarcely stirred, listens eagerly. Suddenly the band begins playing out of tune: ‘ Thunder of victory resound....’ A carriage drives up to the steps, there is a sound of talk, the band stops. Kissing is heard.... A moment later Olga Petrovna walks in with her husband; in one hand he holds the bread; they are followed by Trembinsky, Yegor with the dish, Praskovya Ivanovna and the Servants, who, however, remain in the doorway.]

Olga [with a smile to her husband]. Well here we are at home at last, Paul. [Yelets ky presses her hand.] How glad I am! [Turns to the servants.] Thank you, thank you! [Indicating Yelets ky.] Here is your new master. . . . I beg you to love him and welcome him. [To her husband.] Rendez cela, mon ami. [Yeletsky hands the bread ring to Yegor.]

Trembinsky [bowing with the whole upper half of his body]. Will you be pleased to order something .. . to eat... or tea, perhaps?

Olga. No, thank you, not yet. [To her husband.] I want to show you the whole house, your study. ... It’s seven long years since I’ve been here . . . seven years!

Yeletsky. Do show me.

Praskovya Ivanovna [taking Olga’s hat and cloak from her\. Our dear lady, our darling. . . .

Olga [smiles in response and looks round]. Our house has grown older. . . . And the rooms look smaller.

Yeletsky [in the tone of a kind schoolmaster]. It always seems like that. You were a child when you left it.

Kuzovkin [who all this time has not taken his eyes off Olga, goes up to her]. Olga Petrovna, allow me. . . . [His voice breaks.]

Olga [does not recognize him for the first moment]. Ah — ah, Vassily. . . . Vassily Petrovitch, how are you? I hardly knew you at first.

Kuzovkin [kissing her hand]. Allow me ... to congratulate you.

Olga [to her husband, indicating Kuzovkin]. Our old friend, Vassily Petrovitch. .. .

Yeletsky [bows]. Pleased to meet you.

[Ivanov, too, bows in the distance, though nobody has yet noticed him.]

Kuzovkin [bows to Yeletsky]. . . . Congratulations. ... We are ... all... so glad.
        

Yeletsky [bows again; aside to his wife], < Who’s this?

Olga [aside], A poor gentleman who lives in our house. [Aloud.] Well, let us go, I want to show you the whole house. ... I was born here, Paul, I grew up here. . . .

Yeletsky. Delighted, let us . . . [To Trembinsky.] And you, please tell my valet to carry my things up.

Trembinsky [in a fluster]. Yes, sir, yes, sir.

Olga. Come along, Paul. [They go out into the drawing - room.]

Trembinsky [in a low voice to all the servants]. Well, my friends, now go to your places. You, Yegor Alexeyitch, stay in the hall — the master may ask for you.

[Yegor and the menservants go out into the hall. Praskovya Ivanovna and the maids into the corridor.]

Praskovya Ivanovna [in the doorway]. Go along, go along. . . . What are you laughing at, Masha? [Goes out.]

Trembinsky [to Kuzovkin and Ivanov]. And you are staying here, gentlemen?

Kuzovkin. Yes. We will stay here.

Trembinsky. Oh, very well. . . . But, please, you know . . . [Gesticulates.] . . . Quiet, for goodness sake, or I shall be to blame for it. [Goes out on tip - toe into hall.]

Kuzovkin [looks after him, then turns quickly to Ivanov]. Well, Vanya, what do you think of her? Come, tell me what you think of her? Hasn’t she grown? Isn’t she lovely? And she hasn’t forgotten me. Has she? You see, Vanya, you see: I was right.

Ivanov. Hadn’t forgotten you. . . . Then why did she call you Vassily Petrovitch?

Kuzovkin. What a man you are, Vanya! Why — what does it matter, Petrovitch or Semyonitch — it’s all the same . . . you can see that for yourself, you’re a sensible man. She introduced me to her husband. A fine - looking man! A splendid fellow. You can see from his face. .. Oh yes, he’s a great man in the service, I expect. Don’t you think so, Vanya?

Ivanov. I don’t know, Vassily Semyonitch, I’d better be going.

Kuzovkin. Oh, Vanya! What’s the matter with you? Why, you’re not like yourself. You must go and you must go! You’d much better tell me what you thought of our young lady.

Ivanov. She’s handsome, I’m not denying it.

Kuzovkin. Her smile alone is worth . . . And her voice? Sweet as a warbler, simply, a canary singing. And she loves her husband. You can see that at once. You can, Vanya, can’t you?

Ivanov. Goodness only knows, Vassily Semyonitch.

Kuzovkin. It’s too bad of you, Ivan Kuzmitch, it’s too bad. A man’s happy, and you . . . But here they are coming back.

[Olga and Yeletsky come in from the drawing - room.’]

Olga. Our house is not very grand, as you see. Such as it is, it’s all yours.

Yeletsky. Why, it’s a very fine house; so very well designed.

Olga. Well, now let us go into the garden.

Yeletsky. I shall be delighted . . . but ... I should like to have two or three words with your bailiff.

Olga [reproachfully]. Mine?

Yeletsky [with a smile]. Ours. [Kisses her hand.]

Olga. Well, as you like. I’ll take Vassily Petrovitch with me. Vassily Petrovitch, let us go into the garden. ... Will you come with me?

Kuzovkin [his face beaming with pleasure]. Certainly.

Yeletsky. Put on your hat, Olga.

Olga. I don’t need it. [Throws a scarf over her head.] Come, Vassily Petrovitch.

Kuzovkin. Allow me, Olga Petrovna, to introduce a neighbour . . . Ivanov. [Ivanov bows, embarrassed.]

Olga. Delighted. [To Ivanov.] Will you care to come into the garden with us? Give me your arm, Vassily Petrovitch.

Kuzovkin [hardly able to believe his ears]. How? . . .