ivanoff-第9章

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did　not　mean　to　stop　loving　her。　Do　you　feel　guilty　because　she
saw　me　telling　you　that　I　love　you？　No；　that　cannot　be；　because
you　did　not　want　her　to　see　it

IVANOFF。　＇Interrupting　her＇　And　so　on；　and　so　on！　First　you　say　I
love；　and　then　you　say　I　don't；　that　I　am　not　master　of　my
feelings。　All　these　are　commonplace；　worn…out　sentiments；　with
which　you　cannot　help　me。

SASHA。　It　is　impossible　to　talk　to　you。　＇She　looks　at　a　picture
on　the　wall＇　How　well　those　dogs　are　drawn！　Were　they　done　from
life？

IVANOFF。　Yes；　from　life。　And　this　whole　romance　of　ours　is　a
tedious　old　story；　a　man　loses　heart　and　begins　to　go　down　in　the
world；　a　girl　appears；　brave　and　strong　of　heart；　and　gives　him　a
hand　to　help　him　to　rise　again。　Such　situations　are　pretty；　but
they　are　only　found　in　novels　and　not　in　real　life。

SASHA。　No；　they　are　found　in　real　life　too。

IVANOFF。　Now　I　see　how　well　you　understand　real　life！　My
sufferings　seem　noble　to　you；　you　imagine　you　have　discovered　in
me　a　second　Hamlet；　but　my　state　of　mind　in　all　its　phases　is
only　fit　to　furnish　food　for　contempt　and　derision。　My
contortions　are　ridiculous　enough　to　make　any　one　die　of
laughter；　and　you　want　to　play　the　guardian　angel；　you　want　to　do
a　noble　deed　and　save　me。　Oh；　how　I　hate　myself　to…day！　I　feel
that　this　tension　must　soon　be　relieved　in　some　way。　Either　I
shall　break　something；　or　else

SASHA。　That　is　exactly　what　you　need。　Let　yourself　go！　Smash
something；　break　it　to　pieces；　give　a　yell！　You　are　angry　with
me；　it　was　foolish　of　me　to　come　here。　Very　well；　then；　get
excited　about　it；　storm　at　me；　stamp　your　feet！　Well；　aren't　you
getting　angry？

IVANOFF。　You　ridiculous　girl！

SASHA。　Splendid！　So　we　are　smiling　at　last！　Be　kind；　do　me　the
favour　of　smiling　once　more！

IVANOFF。　＇Laughing＇　I　have　noticed　that　whenever　you　start
reforming　me　and　saving　my　soul；　and　teaching　me　how　to　be　good；
your　face　grows　naive；　oh　so　naive；　and　your　eyes　grow　as　wide　as
if　you　were　looking　at　a　comet。　Wait　a　moment；　your　shoulder　is
covered　with　dust。　＇He　brushes　her　shoulder＇　A　naive　man　is
nothing　better　than　a　fool；　but　you　women　contrive　to　be　naive　in
such　a　way　that　in　you　it　seems　sweet；　and　gentle；　and　proper；
and　not　as　silly　as　it　really　is。　What　a　strange　way　you　have；
though；　of　ignoring　a　man　as　long　as　he　is　well　and　happy；　and
fastening　yourselves　to　him　as　soon　as　he　begins　to　whine　and　go
down…hill！　Do　you　actually　think　it　is　worse　to　be　the　wife　of　a
strong　man　than　to　nurse　some　whimpering　invalid？

SASHA。　Yes；　it　is　worse。

IVANOFF。　Why　do　you　think　so？　＇Laughing　loudly＇　It　is　a　good
thing　Darwin　can't　hear　what　you　are　saying！　He　would　be　furious
with　you　for　degrading　the　human　race。　Soon；　thanks　to　your
kindness；　only　invalids　and　hypochondriacs　will　be　born　into　the
world。

SASHA。　There　are　a　great　many　things　a　man　cannot　understand。　Any
girl　would　rather　love　an　unfortunate　man　than　a　fortunate　one；
because　every　girl　would　like　to　do　something　by　loving。　A　man
has　his　work　to　do；　and　so　for　him　love　is　kept　in　the
background。　To　talk　to　his　wife；　to　walk　with　her　in　the　garden；
to　pass　the　time　pleasantly　with　her；　that　is　all　that　love　means
to　a　man。　But　for　us；　love　means　life。　I　love　you；　that　means
that　I　dream　only　of　how　I　shall　cure　you　of　your　sadness；　how　I
shall　go　with　you　to　the　ends　of　the　earth。　If　you　are　in　heaven；
I　am　in　heaven；　if　you　are　in　the　pit；　I　am　in　the　pit。　For
instance；　it　would　be　the　greatest　happiness　for　me　to　write　all
night　for　you；　or　to　watch　all　night　that　no　one　should　wake　you。
I　remember　that　three　years　ago；　at　threshing　time；　you　came　to
us　all　dusty　and　sunburnt　and　tired；　and　asked　for　a　drink。　When
I　brought　you　a　glass　of　water　you　were　already　lying　on　the　sofa
and　sleeping　like　a　dead　man。　You　slept　there　for　half　a　day；　and
all　that　time　I　watched　by　the　door　that　no　one　should　disturb
you。　How　happy　I　was！　The　more　a　girl　can　do；　the　greater　her
love　　will　be；　that　is；
　I　mean；　the　more　she　feels　it

IVANOFF。　The　love　that　accomplishes　thingshmthat　is　a　fairy
tale；　a　girl's　dream；　and　yet；　perhaps　it　is　as　it　should　be。　＇He
shrugs　his　shoulders＇　How　can　I　tell？　＇Gaily＇　On　my　honour；
Sasha；　I　really　am　quite　a　respectable　man。　Judge　for　yourself：　I
have　always　liked　to　discuss　things；　but　I　have　never　in　my　life
said　that　our　women　were　corrupt；　or　that　such　and　such　a　woman
was　on　the　down…hill　path。　I　have　always　been　grateful；　and
nothing　more。　No；　nothing　more。　Dear　child；　how　comical　you　are！
And　what　a　ridiculous　old　stupid　I　am！　I　shock　all　good　Christian
folk；　and　go　about　complaining　from　morning　to　night。　＇He　laughs
and　then　leaves　her　suddenly＇　But　you　must　go；　Sasha；　we　have
forgotten　ourselves。

SASHA。　Yes；　it　is　time　to　go。　Good…bye。　I　am　afraid　that　that
honest　doctor　of　yours　will　have　told　Anna　out　of　a　sense　of　duty
that　I　am　here。　Take　my　advice：　go　at　once　to　your　wife　and　stay
with　her。　Stay；　and　stay；　and　stay；　and　if　it　should　be　for　a
year；　you　must　still　stay；　or　for　ten　years。　It　is　your　duty。　You
must　repent；　and　ask　her　forgiveness；　and　weep。　That　is　what　you
ought　to　do；　and　the　great　thing　is　not　to　forget　to　do　right。

IVANOFF。　Again　I　feel　as　if　I　were　going　crazy；　again！

SASHA。　Well；　heaven　help　you！　You　must　forget　me　entirely。　In　two
weeks　you　must　send　me　a　line　and　I　shall　be　content　with　that。
But　I　shall　write　to　you

BORKIN　looks　in　at　the　door。

BORKIN。　Ivanoff；　may　I　come　in？　＇He　sees　SASHA＇　I　beg　your
pardon；　I　did　not　see　you。　Bonjour！　＇He　bows。＇

SASHA。　＇Embarrassed＇　How　do　you　do？

BORKIN。　You　are　plumper　and　prettier　than　ever。

SASHA。　＇To　IVANOFF＇　I　must　go；　Nicholas；　I　must　go。　＇She　goes
out。＇

BORKIN。　What　a　beautiful　apparition！　I　came　expecting　prose　and
found　poetry　instead。　＇Sings＇

〃You　showed　yourself　to　the　world　as　a　bird…〃

IVANOFF　walks　excitedly　up　and　down。

BORKIN。　＇Sits　down＇　There　is　something　in　her；　Nicholas；　that　one
doesn't　find　in　other　women；　isn't　there？　An　elfin　strangeness。
＇He　sighs＇　Although　she　is　without　doubt　the　richest　girl　in　the
country；　her　mother　is　so　stingy　that　no　one　will　have　her。　After
her　mother's　death　Sasha　will　have　the　whole　fortune；　but　until
then　she　will　only　give　her　ten　thousand　roubles　and　an　old
flat…iron；　and　to　get　that　she　will　have　to　humble　herself　to　the
ground。　＇He　feels　in　his　pockets＇　Will　you　have　a　smoke？　＇He
offers　IVANOFF　his　cigarette　case＇　These　are　very　good。

IVANOFF。　＇Comes　toward　BORKIN　stifled　with　rage＇　Leave　my　house
this　instant；　and　don't　you　ever　dare　to　set　foot　in　it　again！　Go
this　instant！

BORKIN　gets　up　and　drops　his　cigarette。

IVANOFF。　Go　at　once！

BORKIN。　Nicholas；　what　do　you　mean？　Why　are　you　so　angry？

IVANOFF。　Why！　Where　did　you　get　those　cigarettes？　Where？　You
think　perhaps　that　I　don't　know　where　you　take　the　old　man　every
day；　and　for　what　purpose？

BORKIN。　＇Shrugs　his　shoulders＇　What　business　is　it　of　yours？

IVANOFF。　You　blackguard；　you！　The　disgraceful　rumours　that　you
have　been　spreading　about　me　have　made　me　disreputable　in　the
eyes　of　the　whole　countryside。　You　and　I　have　nothing　in　common；
and　I　ask　you　to　leave　my　house　this　instant。

BORKIN。　I　know　that　you　are　saying　all　this　in　a　moment　of
irritation；　and　so　I　am　not　angry　with　you。　Insult　me　as　much　as
you　please。　＇He　picks　up　his　cigarette＇　It　is　time　though；　to
shake　off　this　melancholy　of　yours；　you're　not　a　schoolboy。

IVANOFF。　What　did　I　tell　you？　＇Shuddering＇　Are　you　making　fun　of
me？

Enter　ANNA。

BORKIN。　There　now；　there　comes　Anna！　I　shall　go。

IVANOFF　stops　near　the　table　and　stands　with　his　head　bowed。

ANNA。　＇After　a　pause＇　What　did　she　come　here　for？　What　did　she
come　here　for；　I　ask　you？

IVANOFF。　Don't　ask　me；　Annie。　＇A　pause＇　I　am　terribly　guilty。
Think　of　any　punishment　you　want　to　inflict　on　me；　I　can　stand
anything；　but　don't；　oh；　don't　ask　questions！

ANNA。　＇Angrily＇　So　that　is　the　sort　of　man　you　are？　Now　I
understand　you；　and　can　see　how　degraded；　how　dishonourable　you
are！　Do　you　remember　that　you　came　to　me　once　and　lied　to　me
about　your　love？　I　believed　you；　and　left　my　mother；　my　father；
and　my　faith　to　follow　you。　Yes；　you　lied　to　me　of　goodness　and
honour；　of　your　noble　aspirations　and　I　believed　every　word…

IVANOFF。　I　have　never　lied　to　you；　Annie。

ANNA。　I　have　lived　with　you　five　years　now；　and　I　am　tired　and
ill；　but　I　have　always　loved　you　and　have　never　left　you　for　a
moment。　You　have　been　my　idol；　and　what　have　you　done？　All　this
time　you　have　been　deceiving　me　in　the　most　dastardly　way…

IVANOFF。　Annie；　don't　say　what　isn't　so。　I　have　made　mistakes；
but　I　have　never　told　a　lie　in　my　life。　You　dare　not　accuse　me　of
that！

ANNA。　It　is　all　clear　to　me　now。　You　married　me　because　you
expected　my　mother　and　father　to　forgive　me　and　give　you　my
money；　that　is　what　you　expected。

IVANOFF。　Good　Lord；　Annie！　If　I　must　suffer　like　this；　I　must
have　the　patience　to　bear　it。　＇He　begins　to　weep。＇

ANNA。　Be　quiet！　When　you　found　that　I　wasn't　bringing　you　any
money；　you　tried　another　game。　Now　I　remember　and　understand
everything。　＇She　begins　to　cry＇　You　have　never　loved　me　or　been
faithful　to　menever！

IVANOFF。　Sarah！　That　is　a　lie！　Say　what　you　want；　but　don't
insult　me　with　a　lie！

ANNA。　You　dishonest；　degraded　man！　You　owe　money　to　Lebedieff；
and　now；　to　escape　paying　your　debts；　you　are　trying　to　turn　the
head　of　his　daughter　and　betray　her　as　you　have　betrayed　me。　Can
you　deny　it？

IVANOFF。　＇Stifled　with　rage＇　For　heaven's　sake；　be　quiet！　I　can't
answer　for　what　I　may　do！　I　am　choking　with　rage　and　II　might
insult　you！

ANNA。　I　am　not　the　only　one　whom　you　have　basely　deceived。　You
have　always　blamed　Borkin　for　all　your　dishonest　tricks；　but　now
I　know　whose　they　are。

IVANOFF。　Sarah；　stop　at　once　and　go　away；　or　else　I　shall　say
something　terrible。　I　long　to　say　a　dreadful；　cruel　thing　＇He
shrieks＇　Hold　your　tongue；　Jewess！

ANNA。　I　won't　hold　my　tongue！　You　have　deceived　me　too　long　for
me　to　be　silent　now。

IVANOFF。　So　you　won't　be　quiet？　＇He　struggles　with　himself＇　Go；
for　heaven's　sake！

ANNA。　Go　now；　and　betray　Sasha！

IVANOFF。　Know　then　that　youare　dying！　The　doctor　told　me　that
you　are　dying。

ANNA。　＇Sits　down　and　speaks　in　a　low　voice＇　When　did　he

IVANOFF。　＇Clutches　his　head　with　both　hands＇　Oh；　how　guilty　I
amhow　guilty！　＇He　sobs。＇

The　curtain　falls。

About　a　year　passes　between　the　third　and　fourth　acts。

ACT　IV

A　sitting…room　in　LEBEDIEFF'S　house。　In　the　middle　of　the　wall　at
the　back　of　the　room　is　an　arch　dividing　the　sitting…room　from
the　ballroom。　To　the　right　and　left　are　doors。　Some　old　bronzes
are　placed　about　the　room；　family　portraits　are　hanging　on　the
walls。　Everything　is　arranged　as　if　for　some　festivity。　On　the
piano　lies　a　violin；　near　it　stands　a　violoncello。　During　the
entire　act　guests；　dressed　as　for　a　ball；　are　seen　walking　about
in　the　ball…room。

Enter　LVOFF；　looking　at　his　watch。

LVOFF。　It　is　five　o'clock。　The　ceremony　must　have　begun。　First
the　priest　will　bless　them；　and　then　they　will　be　led　to　the
church　to　be　married。　Is　this　how　virtue　and　justice　triumph？　Not
being　able