Fruits of Culture Part 32

TaNYA. Why, Theodore Ivanitch, it's all settled now.... And I could go to my G.o.dmother's and get ready, and then after Easter we'd get married.[20] Do tell her, dear Theodore Ivanitch!

[20] See footnote, p. 28. It is customary for peasants to marry just after Easter, but when spring has come and the field work begun, no marriages take place among them till autumn.

THEODORE IVaNITCH. Go away--this is not the place.

An elderly Gentleman comes downstairs, puts on overcoat, and goes out followed by the Second Footman.

Exit Tanya. Enter Jacob.

JACOB. Just fancy, Theodore Ivanitch, it's too bad! She wants to discharge me now! She says, "You break everything, and forget Frisk, and you let the peasants into the kitchen against my orders!" And you know very well that I knew nothing about it. Tatyana told me, "Take them into the kitchen"; how could I tell whose order it was?

THEODORE IVaNITCH. Did the mistress speak to you?

JACOB. She's just spoken. Do speak up for me, Theodore Ivanitch! You see, my people in the country are only just getting on their feet, and suppose I lose my place, when shall I get another? Theodore Ivanitch, do, please!

Anna Pavlovna comes down with the old Countess, whom she is seeing off. The Countess has false teeth and hair. The First Footman helps the Countess into her outdoor things.

ANNA PaVLOVNA. Oh, most certainly, of course! I am so deeply touched.

COUNTESS. If it were not for my illness, I should come oftener to see you.

ANNA PaVLOVNA. You should really consult Peter Petrovitch. He is rough, but n.o.body can soothe one as he does. He is so clear, so simple.

COUNTESS. Oh no, I shall keep to the one I am used to.

ANNA PaVLOVNA. Pray, take care of yourself.

COUNTESS. _Merci, mille fois merci._[21]

[21] COUNTESS. Thank you (for your hospitality), a thousand thanks.

Gregory, dishevelled and excited, jumps out from the servants'

quarters. Simon appears behind him in the doorway.

SIMON. You'd better leave her alone!

GREGORY. You rascal! I'll teach you how to fight, you scamp, you!

ANNA PaVLOVNA. What do you mean? Do you think you are in a public-house?

GREGORY. This coa.r.s.e peasant makes life impossible for me.

ANNA PaVLOVNA [provoked] You've lost your senses. Don't you see? [To Countess] _Merci, mille fois merci. A mardi!_[22]

[22] ANNA PaVLOVNA. Thank you (for coming to see us), a thousand thanks. Till next Tuesday!

Exeunt Countess and First Footman.

ANNA PaVLOVNA [to Gregory] What is the meaning of this?

GREGORY. Though I do occupy the position of a footman, still I won't allow every peasant to hit me; I have my pride too.

ANNA PaVLOVNA. Why, what has happened?

GREGORY. Why, this Simon of yours has got so brave, sitting with the gentlemen, that he wants to fight!

ANNA PaVLOVNA. Why? What for?

GREGORY. Heaven only knows!

ANNA PaVLOVNA [to Simon] What is the meaning of it?

SIMON. Why does he bother her?

ANNA PaVLOVNA. What has happened?

SIMON [smiles] Well, you see, he is always catching hold of Tanya, the lady's-maid, and she won't have it. Well, so I just moved him aside a bit, just so, with my hand.

GREGORY. A nice little bit! He's almost caved my ribs in, and has torn my dress-coat, and he says, "The same power as came over me yesterday comes on me again," and he begins to squeeze me.

ANNA PaVLOVNA [to Simon] How dare you fight in my house?

THEODORE IVaNITCH. May I explain it to you, ma'am? I must tell you Simon is not indifferent to Tanya, and is engaged to her. And Gregory--one must admit the truth--does not behave properly, nor honestly, to her.

Well, so I suppose Simon got angry with him.

GREGORY. Not at all! It is all his spite, because I have discovered their trickery.

ANNA PaVLOVNA. What trickery?

GREGORY. Why, at the seance. All those things, last night,--it was not Simon but Tanya who did them! I saw her getting out from under the sofa with my own eyes.

ANNA PaVLOVNA. What is that? From under the sofa?

GREGORY. I give you my word of honour. And it was she who threw the paper on the table. If it had not been for her the paper would not have been signed, nor the land sold to the peasants.

ANNA PaVLOVNA. And you saw it yourself?

GREGORY. With my own eyes. Shall I call her? She'll not deny it.

ANNA PaVLOVNA. Yes, call her.

Exit Gregory.

Noise behind the scenes. The voice of the Doorkeeper, "No, no, you cannot." Doorkeeper is seen at the front door, the three Peasants rush in past him, the Second Peasant first; the Third one stumbles, falls on his nose, and catches hold of it.

DOORKEEPER. You must not go in!

SECOND PEASANT. Where's the harm? We are not doing anything wrong. We only wish to pay the money!