ivanoff-第3章

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ANNA。　Nicholas；　won't　you　stay？　We　will　talk　together　as　we　used
to。　We　will　have　supper　together　and　read　afterward。　The　old
grumbler　and　I　have　learned　so　many　duets　to　play　to　you。　＇She
kisses　him。　Then；　after　a　pause＇　I　can't　understand　you　any　more。
This　has　been　going　on　for　a　year　now。　What　has　changed　you　so？

IVANOFF。　I　don't　know。

ANNA。　And　why　don't　you　want　me　to　go　driving　with　you　in　the
evening？

IVANOFF。　As　you　insist　on　knowing；　I　shall　have　to　tell　you。　It
is　a　little　cruel；　but　you　had　best　understand。　When　this
melancholy　fit　is　on　me　I　begin　to　dislike　you；　Annie；　and　at
such　times　I　must　escape　from　you。　In　short；　I　simply　have　to
leave　this　house。

ANNA。　Oh；　you　are　sad；　are　you？　I　can　understand　that！　Nicholas；
let　me　tell　you　something：　won't　you　try　to　sing　and　laugh　and
scold　as　you　used　to？　Stay　here；　and　we　will　drink　some　liqueur
together。　and　laugh；　and　chase　away　this　sadness　of　yours　in　no
time。　Shall　I　sing　to　you？　Or　shall　we　sit　in　your　study　in　the
twilight　as　we　used　to；　while　you　tell　me　about　your　sadness？　I
can　read　such　suffering　in　your　eyes！　Let　me　look　into　them　and
weep；　and　our　hearts　will　both　be　lighter。　＇She　laughs　and　cries
at　once＇　Or　is　it　really　true　that　the　flowers　return　with　every
spring；　but　lost　happiness　never　returns？　Oh；　is　it？　Well；　go
then；　go！

IVANOFF。　Pray　for　me；　Annie！　＇He　goes；　then　stops　and　thinks　for
a　moment＇　No；　I　can't　do　it。　＇IVANOFF　goes　out。＇

ANNA。　Yes；　go；　go　＇Sits　down　at　the　table。＇

LVOFF。　＇Walking　up　and　down＇　Make　this　a　rule；　Madam：　as　soon　as
the　sun　goes　down　you　must　go　indoors　and　not　come　out　again
until　morning。　The　damp　evening　air　is　bad　for　you。

ANNA。　Yes；　sir！

LVOFF。　What　do　you　mean　by　〃Yes；　sir〃？　I　am　speaking　seriously。

ANNA。　But　I　don't　want　to　be　serious。　＇She　coughs。＇

LVOFF。　There　now；　you　see；　you　are　coughing　already。

SHABELSKI　comes　out　of　the　house　in　his　hat　and　coat。

SHABELSKI。　Where　is　Nicholas？　Is　the　carriage　here　yet？　＇Goes
quickly　to　ANNA　and　kisses　her　hand＇　Good…night；　my　darling！
＇Makes　a　face　and　speaks　with　a　Jewish　accent＇　I　beg　your　bardon！
＇He　goes　quickly　out。＇

LVOFF。　Idiot！

A　pause；　the　sounds　of　a　concertina　are　heard　in　the　distance。

ANNA。　Oh；　how　lonely　it　is！　The　coachman　and　the　cook　are　having
a　little　ball　in　there　by　themselves；　and　II　am；　as　it　were；
abandoned。　Why　are　you　walking　about；　Doctor？　Come　and　sit　down
here。

LVOFF。　I　can't　sit　down。

＇A　pause。＇

ANNA。　They　are　playing　〃The　Sparrow〃　in　the　kitchen。　＇She　sings＇

　　　〃Sparrow；　Sparrow；　where　are　you？
　　　　On　the　mountain　drinking　dew。〃

＇A　pause＇　Are　your　father　and　mother　living；　Doctor？

LVOFF。　My　mother　is　living；　my　father　is　dead。

ANNA。　Do　you　miss　your　mother　very　much？

LVOFF。　I　am　too　busy　to　miss　any　one。

ANNA。　＇Laughing＇　The　flowers　return　with　every　spring；　but　lost
happiness　never　returns。　I　wonder　who　taught　me　that？　I　think　it
was　Nicholas　himself。　＇Listens＇　The　owl　is　hooting　again。

LVOFF。　Well；　let　it　hoot。

ANNA。　I　have　begun　to　think；　Doctor；　that　fate　has　cheated　me。
Other　people　who；　perhaps；　are　no　better　than　I　am　are　happy　and
have　not　had　to　pay　for　their　happiness。　But　I　have　paid　for　it
all；　every　moment　of　it；　and　such　a　price！　Why　should　I　have　to
pay　so　terribly？　Dear　friend；　you　are　all　too　considerate　and
gentle　with　me　to　tell　me　the　truth；　but　do　you　think　I　don't
know　what　is　the　matter　with　me？　I　know　perfectly　well。　However；
this　isn't　a　pleasant　subject　＇With　a　Jewish　accent＇　〃I　beg
your　bardon！〃　Can　you　tell　funny　stories？

LVOFF。　No；　I　can't。

ANNA。　Nicholas　can。　I　am　beginning　to　be　surprised；　too；　at　the
injustice　of　people。　Why　do　they　return　hatred　for　love；　and
answer　truth　with　lies？　Can　you　tell　me　how　much　longer　I　shall
be　hated　by　my　mother　and　father？　They　live　fifty　miles　away；　and
yet　I　can　feel　their　hatred　day　and　night；　even　in　my　sleep。　And
how　do　you　account　for　the　sadness　of　Nicholas？　He　says　that　he
only　dislikes　me　in　the　evening；　when　the　fit　is　on　him。　I
understand　that；　and　can　tolerate　it；　but　what　if　he　should　come
to　dislike　me　altogether？　Of　course　that　is　impossible；　and
yetno；　no；　I　mustn't　even　imagine　such　a　thing。　＇Sings＇

　　　〃Sparrow；　Sparrow；　where　are　you？〃

＇She　shudders＇　What　fearful　thoughts　I　have！　You　are　not　married；
Doctor；　there　are　many　things　that　you　cannot　understand。

LVOFF。　You　say　you　are　surprised；　butbut　it　is　you　who　surprise
me。　Tell　me；　explain　to　me　how　you；　an　honest　and　intelligent
woman；　almost　a
　saint；　could　allow　yourself　to　be　so　basely　deceived　and　dragged
into　this　den　of　bears？　Why　are　you　here？　What　have　you　in　common
with　such　a　cold　and　heartlessbut　enough　of　your　husband！　What
have　you　in　common　with　these　wicked　and　vulgar　surroundings？
With　that　eternal　grumbler；　the　crazy　and　decrepit　Count？　With
that　swindler；　that　prince　of　rascals；　Misha；　with　his　fool's
face？　Tell　me；　I　say；　how　did　you　get　here？

ANNA。　＇laughing＇　That　is　what　he　used　to　say；　long　ago；　oh；
exactly！　Only　his　eyes　are　larger　than　yours；　and　when　he　was
excited　they　used　to　shine　like　coalsgo　on；　go　on！

LVOFF。　＇Gets　up　and　waves　his　hand＇　There　is　nothing　more　to　say。
Go　into　the　house。

ANNA。　You　say　that　Nicholas　is　not　what　he　should　be；　that　his
faults　are　so　and　so。　How　can　you　possibly　understand　him？　How
can　you　learn　to　know　any　one　in　six　months？　He　is　a　wonderful
man；　Doctor；　and　I　am　sorry　you　could　not　have　known　him　as　he
was　two　or　three　years　ago。　He　is　depressed　and　silent　now；　and
broods　all　day　without　doing　anything；　but　he　was　splendid　then。
I　fell　in　love　with　him　at　first　sight。　＇Laughing＇　I　gave　one
look　and　was　caught　like　a　mouse　in　a　trap！　So　when　he　asked　me
to　go　with　him　I　cut　every　tie　that　bound　me　to　my　old　life　as
one　snips　the　withered　leaves　from　a　plant。　But　things　are
different　now。　Now　he　goes　to　the　Lebedieff's　to　amuse　himself
with　other　women；　and　I　sit　here　in　the　garden　and　listen　to　the
owls。　＇The　WATCHMAN'S　rattle　is　heard＇　Tell　me；　Doctor；　have　you
any　brothers　and　sisters？

LVOFF。　No。

ANNA　sobs。

LVOFF。　What　is　it？　What　is　the　matter？

ANNA。　I　can't　stand　it；　Doctor；　I　must　go。

LVOFF。　Where？

ANNA。　To　him。　I　am　going。　Have　the　horses　harnessed。　＇She　runs
into　the　house。＇

LVOFF。　No；　I　certainly　cannot　go　on　treating　any　one　under　these
conditions。　I　not　only　have　to　do　it　for　nothing；　but　I　am　forced
to　endure　this　agony　of　mind　besides。　No；　no；　I　can't　stand　it。　I
have　had　enough　of　it。　＇He　goes　into　the　house。＇

The　curtain　falls。

ACT　II

The　drawing…room　of　LEBEDIEFF誗　house。　In　the　centre　is　a　door
leading　into　a　garden。　Doors　open　out　of　the　room　to　the　right
and　left。　The　room　is　furnished　with　valuable　old　furniture；
which　is　carefully　protected　by　linen　covers。　The　walls　are　hung
with　pictures。　The　room　is　lighted　by　candelabra。　ZINAIDA　is
sitting　on　a　sofa；　the　elderly　guests　are　sitting　in　arm…chairs
on　either　hand。　The　young　guests　are　sitting　about　the　room　on
small　chairs。　KOSICH；　AVDOTIA　NAZAROVNA；　GEORGE；　and　others　are
playing　cards　in　the　background。　GABRIEL　is　standing　near　the
door　on　the　right。　The　maid　is　passing　sweetmeats　about　on　a
tray。　During　the　entire　act　guests　come　and　go　from　the　garden；
through　the　room；　out　of　the　door　on　the　left；　and　back　again。
Enter　MARTHA　through　the　door　on　the　right。　She　goes　toward
ZINAIDA。

ZINAIDA。　＇Gaily＇　My　dearest　Martha！

MARTHA。　How　do　you　do；　Zinaida？　Let　me　congratulate　you　on　your
daughter's　birthday。

ZINAIDA。　Thank　you；　my　dear；　I　am　delighted　to　see　you。　How　are
you？

MARTHA。　Very　well　indeed；　thank　you。　＇She　sits　down　on　the　sofa＇
Good　evening；　young　people！

The　younger　guests　get　up　and　bow。

FIRST　GUEST。　＇Laughing＇　Young　people　indeed！　Do　you　call　yourself
an　old　person？

MARTHA。　＇Sighing＇　How　can　I　make　any　pretense　to　youth　now？

FIRST　GUEST。　What　nonsense！　The　fact　that　you　are　a　widow　means
nothing。　You　could　beat　any　pretty　girl　you　chose　at　a　canter。

GABRIEL　brings　MARTHA　some　tea。

ZINAIDA。　Why　do　you　bring　the　tea　in　like　that？　Go　and　fetch　some
jam　to　eat　with　it！

MARTHA。　No　thank　you；　none　for　me；　don't　trouble　yourself。　＇A
pause。＇

FIRST　GUEST。　＇To　MARTHA＇　Did　you　come　through　Mushkine　on　your
way　here？

MARTHA。　No；　I　came　by　way　of　Spassk。　The　road　is　better　that　way。

FIRST　GUEST。　Yes；　so　it　is。

KOSICH。　Two　in　spades。

GEORGE。　Pass。

AVDOTIA。　Pass。

SECOND　GUEST。　Pass。

MARTHA。　The　price　of　lottery　tickets　has　gone　up　again；　my　dear。
I　have　never　known　such　a　state　of　affairs。　The　first　issue　is
already　worth　two　hundred　and　seventy　and　the　second　nearly　two
hundred　and　fifty。　This　has　never　happened　before。

ZINAIDA。　How　fortunate　for　those　who　have　a　great　many　tickets！

MARTHA。　Don't　say　that；　dear；　even　when　the　price　of　tickets　is
high　it　does　not　pay　to　put　one's　capital　into　them。

ZINAIDA。　Quite　true；　and　yet；　my　dear；　one　never　can　tell　what
may　happen。　Providence　is　sometimes　kind。

THIRD　GUEST。　My　impression　is；　ladies；　that　at　present　capital　is
exceedingly　unproductive。　Shares　pay　very　small　dividends；　and
speculating　is　exceedingly　dangerous。　As　I　understand　it；　the
capitalist　now　finds　himself　in　a　more　critical　position　than　the
man　who…

MARTHA。　Quite　right。

FIRST　GUEST　yawns。

MARTHA。　How　dare　you　yawn　in　the　presence　of　ladies？

FIRST　GUEST。　I　beg　your　pardon！　It　was　quite　an　accident。

ZINAIDA　gets　up　and　goes　out　through　the　door　on　the　right。

GEORGE。　Two　in　hearts。

SECOND　GUEST。　Pass。

KOSICH。　Pass。

MARTHA。　＇Aside＇　Heavens！　This　is　deadly！　I　shall　die　of　ennui。

Enter　ZINAIDA　and　LEBEDIEFF　through　the　door　on　the　right。

ZINAIDA。　Why　do　you　go　off　by　yourself　like　a　prima　donna？　Come
and　sit　with　our　guests！

＇She　sits　down　in　her　former　place。＇

LEBEDIEFF。　＇Yawning＇　Oh；　dear；　our　sins　are　heavy！　＇He　catches
sight　of　MARTHA＇　Why；　there　is　my　little　sugar…plum！　How　is　your
most　esteemed　highness？

MARTHA。　Very　well；　thank　you。

LEBEDIEFF。　Splendid；　splendid！　＇He　sits　down　in　an　armchair＇
Quite　rightOh；　Gabriel！

GABRIEL　brings　him　a　glass　of　vodka　and　a　tumbler　of　water。　He
empties　the　glass　of　vodka　and　sips　the　water。

FIRST　GUEST。　Good　health　to　you！

LEBEDIEFF。　Good　health　is　too　much　to　ask。　I　am　content　to　keep
death　from　the　door。　＇To　his　wife＇　Where　is　the　heroine　of　this
occasion；　Zuzu？

KOSICH。　＇In　a　plaintive　voice＇　Look　here；　why　haven't　we　taken
any　tricks　yet？　＇He　jumps　up＇　Yes；　why　have　we　lost　this　game
entirely；　confound　it？

AVDOTIA。　＇Jumps　up　angrily＇　Because；　friend；　you　don't　know　how
to　play　it；　and　have　no　right　to　be　sitting　here　at　all。　What
right　had　you　to　lead　from　another　suit？　Haven't　you　the　ace
left？　＇They　both　leave　the　table　and　run　forward。＇

KOSICH。　＇In　a　tearful　voice＇　Ladies　and　gentlemen；　let　me
explain！　I　had　the　ace；　king；　queen；　and　eight　of　diamonds；　the
ace　of　spades　and　one；　just　one；　little　heart；　do　you　understand？
Well；　she；　bad　luck　to　her；　she　couldn't　make　a　little　slam。　I
said　one　in　no…trumps…　*

*The　game　played　is　vint；　the　national　card…game　of　Russia　and
the　direct　ancestor　of　auction　bridge；　with　which　it　is　almost
identical。　＇translator's　not