[THEODORE IVaNITCH returns.
THEODORE IVaNITCH. Well, have you told him your secret?
TaNYA. I"ll tell you, too, only later on.... But I have a favor to ask of you, too, Theodore Ivanitch.
THEODORE IVaNITCH. Yes? What is it?
TaNYA (shyly). You have been a second father to me, and I will open my heart before you as before G.o.d.
THEODORE IVaNITCH. Don"t beat about the bush, but come straight to the point.
TaNYA. The point is ... well, the point is, that Simon wants to marry me.
THEODORE IVaNITCH. Is that it? I thought I noticed....
TaNYA. Well, why should I hide it? I am an orphan, and you know yourself how matters are in these town establishments. Every one comes bothering; there"s that Gregory Mihaylitch, for instance, he gives me no peace. And also that other one ... you know. They think I have no soul, and am only here for their amus.e.m.e.nt.
THEODORE IVaNITCH. Good girl, that"s right! Well, what then?
TaNYA. Well, Simon wrote to his father; and he, his father, sees me to-day, and says: "He"s spoilt"--he means his son. Theodore Ivanitch (bows), take the place of a father to me, speak to the old man,--to Simon"s father! I could take them into the kitchen, and you might come in and speak to the old man!
THEODORE IVaNITCH (smiling). Then I am to turn match-maker--am I?
Well, I can do that.
TaNYA. Theodore Ivanitch, dearest, be a father to me, and I"ll pray for you all my life long.
THEODORE IVaNITCH. All right, all right, I"ll come later on. Haven"t I promised?
[Takes up newspaper.
TaNYA. You are a second father to me!
THEODORE IVaNITCH. All right, all right.
TaNYA. Then I"ll rely on you.
[Exit.
THEODORE IVaNITCH (alone, shaking his head). A good affectionate girl.
To think that so many like her perish! Get but once into trouble and she"ll go from hand to hand until she sinks into the mire, and can never be found again! There was that dear little Nataly. She, too, was a good girl, reared and cared for by a mother. (Takes up paper.) Well, let"s see what tricks Ferdinand is up to in Bulgaria.
CURTAIN
ACT II
Evening of the same day. The scene represents the interior of the servants" kitchen. The PEASANTS have taken off their outer garments and sit drinking tea at the table, and perspiring. THEODORE IVaNITCH is smoking a cigar at the other side of the stage. The discharged COOK is lying on the brick oven, and is unseen during the early part of the scene.
THEODORE IVaNITCH. My advice is, don"t hinder him! If it"s his wish and hers, in Heaven"s name, let him do it. She is a good, honest girl.
Never mind her being a bit dressy; she can"t help that, living in town: she is a good girl all the same.
SECOND PEASANT. Well, of course, if it is his wish, let him! He"ll have to live with her, not me. But she"s certainly uncommon spruce.
How"s one to take her into one"s hut? Why, she"ll not let her mother-in-law so much as pat her on the head.
THEODORE IVaNITCH. That does not depend on the spruceness, but on character. If her nature is good, she"s sure to be docile and respectful.
SECOND PEASANT. Ah, well, we"ll have her if the lad"s bent on having her. After all, it"s a bad job to live with one as one don"t care for.
I"ll consult my missus, and then may Heaven bless them!
THEODORE IVaNITCH. Then let"s shake hands on it!
SECOND PEASANT. Well, it seems it will have to come off.
FIRST PEASANT. Eh, Zachary! fortune"s a-smiling on you! You"ve come to accomplish a piece of business, and just see what a d.u.c.h.ess of a daughter-in-law you"ve obtained. All that"s left to be done is to have a drink on it, and then it will be all in order.
THEODORE IVaNITCH. That"s not at all necessary.
[An awkward silence.
THEODORE IVaNITCH. I know something of your way of life, too, you know. I am even thinking of purchasing a bit of land, building a cottage, and working on the land myself somewhere; maybe in your neighborhood.
SECOND PEASANT. A very good thing, too.
FIRST PEASANT. That"s just it. When one has got the money one can get all kinds of pleasure in the country.
THIRD PEASANT. Say no more about it! Country life let"s say, is freer in every way, not like the town!
THEODORE IVaNITCH. There now, would you let me join your Commune if I settled among you?
SECOND PEASANT. Why not? If you stand drink for the Elders, they"ll accept you soon enough!
FIRST PEASANT. And if you open a public-house, for example, or an inn, why, you"d have such a life you"d never need to die! You might live like a king, and no mistake.
THEODORE IVaNITCH. Well, we"ll see. I should certainly like to have a few quiet years in my old age. Though my life here is good enough, and I should be sorry to leave. Leonid Fyodoritch is an exceedingly kind-hearted man.
FIRST PEASANT. That"s just it. But how about our business? Is it possible that he is going to leave it without any termination?
THEODORE IVaNITCH. He"d do it willingly.
SECOND PEASANT. It seems he"s afraid of his wife.
THEODORE IVaNITCH. It"s not that he"s afraid, but they don"t hit things off together.
THIRD PEASANT. But you should try, father! How are we to live else?
We"ve so little land....