MARiNA. But why?
NIKiTA. Why, I"m sick of my whole life! I am sick of myself! Ah, Marina, why did you not know how to keep me? You"ve ruined me, and yourself too!
Is this life?
MARiNA [stands by the barn crying, but restrains herself] I do not complain of my life, Nikita! G.o.d grant every one a life like mine. I do not complain. I confessed to my old man at the time, and he forgave me.
And he does not reproach me. I"m not discontented with my life. The old man is quiet, and is fond of me, and I keep his children clothed and washed! He is really kind to me. Why should I complain? It seems G.o.d willed it so. And what"s the matter with your life? You are rich ...
NIKiTA. My life!... It"s only that I don"t wish to disturb the wedding feast, or I"d take this rope here [takes hold of the rope on the straw]
and throw it across that rafter there. Then I"d make a noose and stretch it out, and I"d climb on to that rafter and jump down with my head in the noose! That"s what my life is!
MARiNA. That"s enough! Lord help you!
NIKiTA. You think I"m joking? You think I"m drunk? I"m not drunk! To-day even drink takes no hold on me! I"m devoured by misery! Misery is eating me up completely, so that I care for nothing! Oh, little Marina, it"s only with you I ever lived! Do you remember how we used to while away the nights together at the railway?
MARiNA. Don"t you rub the sores, Nikita! I"m bound legally now, and you too. My sin has been forgiven, don"t disturb ...
NIKiTA. What shall I do with my heart? Where am I to turn to?
MARiNA. What"s there to be done? You"ve got a wife. Don"t go looking at others, but keep to your own! You loved Anisya, then go on loving her!
NIKiTA. Oh, that Anisya, she"s gall and wormwood to me, but she"s round my feet like rank weeds!
MARiNA. Whatever she is, still she"s your wife.... But what"s the use of talking; you"d better go to your visitors, and send my husband to me.
NIKiTA. Oh dear, if you knew the whole business ... but there"s no good talking!
Enter Marina"s husband, red and tipsy, and Nan.
MARiNA"S HUSBAND. Marina! Missis! My old woman! are you here?
NIKiTA. There"s your husband calling you. Go!
MARiNA. And you?
NIKiTA. I? I"ll lie down here for a bit! [Lies down on the straw].
HUSBAND. Where is she then?
NAN. There she is, near the barn.
HUSBAND. What are you standing there for? Come to the feast! The hosts want you to come and do them honour! The wedding party is just going to start, and then we can go too.
MARiNA [going towards her husband] I didn"t want to go in.
HUSBAND. Come on, I tell you! You"ll drink a gla.s.s to our nephew Peter"s health, the rascal! Else the hosts might take offence! There"s plenty of time for our business. [Marina"s husband puts his arm around her, and goes reeling out with her].
NIKiTA [rises and sits down on the straw] Ah, now that I"ve seen her, life seems more sickening than ever! It was only with her that I ever really lived! I"ve ruined my life for nothing! I"ve done for myself!
[Lies down] Where can I go? If mother earth would but open and swallow me!
NAN [sees Nikita, and runs towards him] Daddy, I say, daddy! They"re looking for you! Her G.o.dfather and all of them have already blessed her.
Truly they have, they"re getting cross!
NIKiTA [aside] Where can I go to?
NAN. What? What are you saying?
NIKiTA. I"m not saying anything! Don"t bother!
NAN. Daddy! Come, I say! [Nikita is silent, Nan pulls him by the hand]
Dad, go and bless them! My word, they"re angry, they"re grumbling!
NIKiTA [drags away his hand] Leave me alone!
NAN. Now then!
NIKiTA [threatens her with the rope] Go, I say! I"ll give it you!
NAN. Then I"ll send mother! [Runs away].
NIKiTA [rises] How can I go? How can I take the holy icon in my hands?
How am I to look her in the face! [Lies down again] Oh, if there were a hole in the ground, I"d jump in! No one should see me, and I should see no one! [Rises again] No, I shan"t go ... May they all go to the devil, I shan"t go! [Takes the rope and makes a noose, and tries it on his neck] That"s the way!
Enter Matryona. Nikita sees his mother, takes the rope off his neck, and again lies down in the straw.
MATRYoNA [comes in hurriedly] Nikita! Nikita, I say! He don"t even answer! Nikita, what"s the matter? Have you had a drop too much? Come, Nikita dear; come, honey! The people are tired of waiting.
NIKiTA. Oh dear, what have you done with me? I"m a lost man!
MATRYoNA. But what is the matter then? Come, my own; come, give them your blessing, as is proper and honourable, and then it"ll all be over!
Why, the people are waiting!
NIKiTA. How can I give blessings?
MATRYoNA. Why, in the usual way! Don"t you know?
NIKiTA. I know, I know! But who is it I am to bless? What have I done to her?
MATRYoNA. What have you done? Eh, now he"s going to remember it! Why, who knows anything about it? Not a soul! And the girl is going of her own accord.
NIKiTA. Yes, but how?
MATRYoNA. Because she"s afraid, of course. But still she"s going.
Besides, what"s to be done now? She should have thought sooner! Now she can"t refuse. And his kinsfolk can"t take offence either. They saw the girl twice, and get money with her too! It"s all safe and sound!
NIKiTA. Yes, but what"s in the cellar?
MATRYoNA [laughs] In the cellar? Why, cabbages, mushrooms, potatoes, I suppose! Why remember the past?
NIKiTA. I"d be only too glad to forget it; but I can"t! When I let my mind go, it"s just as if I heard.... Oh, what have you done with me?