MATRYoNA. Go on! I should think the samovar"s boiling over.
ANiSYA. Oh my head, my poor head! [Exit].
MATRYoNA [approaches Nikita] Now then, sonnie. [Sits down beside him]
Your affairs must also be thought about, and not left anyhow.
NIKiTA. What affairs?
MATRYoNA. Why, this affair--how you"re to live your life.
NIKiTA. How to live my life? Others live, and I shall live!
MATRYoNA. The old man will probably die to-day.
NIKiTA. Well, if he dies, G.o.d give him rest! What"s that to me?
MATRYoNA [keeps looking towards the porch while she speaks] Eh, sonnie!
Those that are alive have to think about living. One needs plenty of sense in these matters, honey. What do you think? I"ve tramped all over the place after your affairs, I"ve got quite footsore bothering about matters. And you must not forget me when the time comes.
NIKiTA. And what"s it you"ve been bothering about?
MATRYoNA. About your affairs, about your future. If you don"t take trouble in good time you"ll get nothing. You know Ivan Moseitch? Well, I"ve been to him too. I went there the other day. I had something else to settle, you know. Well, so I sat and chatted awhile and then came to the point. "Tell me, Ivan Moseitch," says I, "how"s one to manage an affair of this kind? Supposing," says I, "a peasant as is a widower married a second wife, and supposing all the children he has is a daughter by the first wife, and a daughter by the second. Then," says I, "when that peasant dies, could an outsider get hold of the homestead by marrying the widow? Could he," says I, "give both the daughters in marriage and remain master of the house himself?" "Yes, he could," says he, "but," says he, "it would mean a deal of trouble; still the thing could be managed by means of money, but if there"s no money it"s no good trying."
NIKiTA [laughs] That goes without saying, only fork out the money. Who does not want money?
MATRYoNA. Well then, honey, so I spoke out plainly about the affair. And he says, "First and foremost, your son will have to get himself on the register of that village--that will cost something. The elders will have to be treated. And they, you see, they"ll sign. Everything," says he, "must be done sensibly." Look, [unwraps her kerchief and takes out a paper] he"s written out this paper; just read it, you"re a scholar, you know. [Nikita reads].
NIKiTA. This paper"s only a decision for the elders to sign. There"s no great wisdom needed for that.
MATRYoNA. But you just hear what Ivan Moseitch bids us do. "Above all,"
he says, "mind and don"t let the money slip away, dame. If she don"t get hold of the money," he says, "they"ll not let her do it. Money"s the great thing!" So look out, sonnie, things are coming to a head.
NIKiTA. What"s that to me? The money"s hers--so let her look out.
MATRYoNA. Ah, sonnie, how you look at it! How can a woman manage such affairs? Even if she does get the money, is she capable of arranging it all? One knows what a woman is! You"re a man anyhow. You can hide it, and all that. You see, you"ve after all got more sense, in case of anything happening.
NIKiTA. Oh, your woman"s notions are all so inexpedient!
MATRYoNA. Why inexpedient? You just collar the money, and the woman"s in your hands. And then should she ever turn snappish you"d be able to tighten the reins!
NIKiTA. Bother you all,--I"m going.
ANiSYA [quite pale, runs out of the hut and round the corner to Matryona] So it was, it was on him! Here it is! [Shows that she has something under her ap.r.o.n].
MATRYoNA. Give it to Nikita, he"ll hide it. Nikita, take it and hide it somewhere.
NIKiTA. All right, give here!
ANiSYA. O-oh, my poor head! No, I"d better do it myself. [Goes towards the gate].
MATRYoNA [seizing her by the arm] Where are you going to? You"ll be missed. There"s the sister coming; give it him; he knows what to do. Eh, you blockhead!
ANiSYA [stops irresolutely] Oh, my head, my head!
NIKiTA. Well, give it here. I"ll shove it away somewhere.
ANiSYA. Where will you shove it to?
NIKiTA [laughing] Why, are you afraid?
Enter Akoulina, carrying clothes from the wash.
ANiSYA. O-oh, my poor head! [Gives the money] Mind, Nikita.
NIKiTA. What are you afraid of? I"ll hide it so that I"ll not be able to find it myself. [Exit].
ANiSYA [stands in terror] Oh dear, and supposing he ...
MATRYoNA. Well, is he dead?
ANiSYA. Yes, he seems dead. He did not move when I took it.
MATRYoNA. Go in, there"s Akoulina.
ANiSYA. Well there, I"ve done the sin and he has the money....
MATRYoNA. Have done and go in! There"s Martha coming!
ANiSYA. There now, I"ve trusted him. What"s going to happen now? [Exit].
MARTHA [enters from one side, Akoulina enters from the other. To Akoulina] I should have come before, but I was at my daughter"s. Well, how"s the old man? Is he dying?
AKOULiNA [puts down the clothes] Don"t know, I"ve been to the river.
MARTHA [pointing to Matryona] Who"s that?
MATRYoNA. I"m from Zouevo. I"m Nikita"s mother from Zouevo, my dearie.
Good afternoon to you. He"s withering, withering away, poor dear--your brother, I mean. He came out himself. "Send for my sister," he said, "because," said he ... Dear me, why, I do believe, he"s dead!
ANiSYA [runs out screaming. Clings to a post, and begins wailing][4] Oh, oh, ah! who-o-o-m have you left me to, why-y-y have you dese-e-e-e-rted me--a miserable widow ... to live my life alone ... Why have you closed your bright eyes ...
[4] Loud public wailing of this kind is customary, and considered indispensable, among the peasants.
Enter Neighbour. Matryona and Neighbour catch hold of Anisya under the arms to support her. Akoulina and Martha go into the hut. A crowd a.s.sembles.
A VOICE IN THE CROWD. Send for the old women to lay out the body.
MATRYoNA [rolls up her sleeves] Is there any water in the copper? But I daresay the samovar is still hot. I"ll also go and help a bit.