Plays by Aleksandr Nikolaevich Ostrovsky Part 27

KoRSHUNOV. Why? You like some one else, that's why. But you will come to love me! I'm a good man--a jolly man, he, he, he!

LYUBoV GORDeYEVNA. I don't know what you are talking about.

KoRSHUNOV. I say, you will come to love me. Why not? I'm not old yet.

[_Looks at her_] Am I an old man? He, he, he! Well, well, there's no harm in that. To make up for it you shall wear cloth of gold. I haven't any money! I'm a poor man. I've only got about five hundred thousand, he, he, he! In silver! [_Takes her hand_.

LYUBoV GORDeYEVNA. [_Rising_] I don't need your money.

GORDeY KaRPYCH. Lyubov, where are you going?

LYUBoV GORDeYEVNA. To mother!

GORDeY KaRPYCH. Wait! She'll come here.

LYUBoV GORDeYEVNA _sits down._

KoRSHUNOV. You don't want to sit by the old man? Give me your hand, young lady; I will kiss it.

LYUBoV GORDeYEVNA. [_Gives her hand_] Oh, good heavens!

KoRSHUNOV. What a hand! He, he, he! Like velvet! [_Strokes her hand, and then puts on a diamond ring._

LYUBoV GORDeYEVNA. [_Freeing her hand_] Oh, let me go! I don't want it; I don't want it!

KoRSHUNOV. That's all right; it's no loss to me--it won't ruin me.

LYUBoV GORDeYEVNA. But I don't want it. Give it to whomever you like.

[_Takes it off and returns it._

KoRSHUNOV. I gave it to you, and I won't take it back! He, he, he!

_Enter_ PELAGeYA EGoROVNA, _and after her,_ ARiNA _and_ EGoRUSHKA _with wine and gla.s.ses._

SCENE X

_The same with_ PELAGeYA EGoROVNA, ARiNA, _and_ EGoRUSHKA

GORDeY KaRPYCH. Come now and have a drink.

KoRSHUNOV. All right, Gordey Karpych, give me something to drink. And you girls, sing a song in my honor--I love to have respect shown me.

PELAGeYA EGoROVNA. Girls, sing a song for him.

GORDeY KaRPYCH. [_Uncorks the bottle, pours out champagne, and offers it to him_] To our dear friend Afrikan Savvich! Make a bow, wife!

PELAGeYA EGoROVNA. If you please, Afrikan Savvich, I humbly beg you.

KoRSHUNOV _takes the gla.s.s._

GORDeY KaRPYCH. [_Takes the gla.s.s_] Wife, drink!

PELAGeYA EGoROVNA. Oh, somehow I don't like this kind of wine! Well, yes!

I'll take just a gla.s.s.

GIRLS. [_Sing_] "Ah, who is he, our bachelor, And who is still unwed?

Afrikan's our bachelor And Savvich still unwed.

He jumped on the horse, The horse skips to and fro; He rides through the meadows, And green the meadows grow, And flowers blow."

KoRSHUNOV. [_Seats himself near_ LYUBoV GORDeYEVNA] That's nice. I like that. Now, then, come here some one. [_A girl comes up, he pats her on the cheek_] Oh, you little bright eyes! You girls, I suppose, need a lot to set off your fair faces and rosy blushes; he, he, he! But I haven't any money!

It will be on me, he, he, he! Hold out your ap.r.o.n! [_He tosses her some small change; the girl bows and goes out_] Now, then, Gordey Karpych, tell your wife why we came.

GORDeY KaRPYCH. I told you, wife, long ago, that living in this town bored me, because you can't take a step here without seeing that the people are absolutely ignorant and uneducated. And so I want to move from this place to Moscow. But there will be a man there who is no stranger to us--our dear son-in-law, Afrikan Savvich.

PELAGeYA EGoROVNA. Oh! Oh! What are you saying!

KoRSHUNOV. Yes, we've shaken hands on it, Pelageya Egorovna. What are you afraid of? I'm not going to eat her!

PELAGeYA EGoROVNA. Oh, Lord! [_Seizes her daughter_] She's my daughter! I won't give her up!

GORDeY KaRPYCH. Wife!

PELAGeYA EGoROVNA. My dear Gordey Karpych! Don't trifle with a mother's heart! Stop! You've fairly staggered me!

GORDeY KaRPYCH. Wife, you know me! And you, Afrikan Savvich, don't be uneasy: with me saying is doing!

KoRSHUNOV. You have promised--then keep your word. [_Rises, goes to the girls, and speaks to them in a low voice._

LYUBoV GORDeYEVNA. [_Goes to her father_] Father, I will never take a step against your will. But have pity on me, poor girl that I am! Don't ruin my young life!

GORDeY KaRPYCH. You're a fool, and don't understand your own happiness!

You'll live in Moscow like a lady; you'll ride in a coach. In the first place, you'll live in the city--and not in a wilderness like this! In the second place, these are my orders!

LYUBoV GORDeYEVNA. I dare not disobey your command. Father! [_Bows down to his feet_] Don't make me unhappy for my whole life! Relent, father! Make me do whatever you like, only don't compel me to marry a man I don't love!

GORDeY KaRPYCH. I never take back my word. [_Rises._

LYUBoV GORDeYEVNA. As you wish, father! [_Bows and goes to her mother._

KoRSHUNOV. There, that business is over! Now, then, girls--a marriage song!

GIRLS. [_Sing_] "The flowers in the garden will wither all about me, The blue flower in the meadow will be faded and forlorn; And so will my darling of the red cheeks without me; So rise up early, mother, in the morn.

You must water all the flowers In the dawn and evening hours With water very often and with bitter tears in showers."

LYUBoV GORDeYEVNA. Not that, not that! Sing another!