KABANOV. There, you see how I always catch it from mamma on your account! A nice sort of life I lead!
KATERINA. Is it my fault?
KABANOV. I don't know whose fault it is.
VARVARA. Is it likely you would know?
KABANOV. She used to keep on at me, "You must get a wife, you must get a wife, I'm longing to see you a married man." And now she worries my life out, and gives me no peace—all on your account.
VARVARA. Well, it's not her fault! Mother attacks her, and you too. And then you say you love your wife. It makes me sick to look at you. (Turns away.)
KABANOV. Talk away! What am I to do?
VARVARA. Mind your own business—hold your tongue, if you can't do anything better. Why do you stand there shilly-shallying? I can see by your face what's in your mind.
KABANOV. Why, what?
VARVARA. What?—Why, that you want to go in and have a drink with Saviol Prokofitch. Eh? isn't that it?
KABANOV. You've hit it, old girl.
KATERINA. Come back quickly, Tihon dear, or mamma will be scolding again.
VARVARA. Yes, indeed, you must look sharp, or you'll know what to expect.
KABANOV. I should think I do!
VARVARA. We've no great desire to get into a row for your sake either.
KABANOV. I'll fly. Wait for me!
[Goes.
KATERINA. So you are sorry for me, Varia?
VARVARA (looking away). Of course, I am.
KATERINA. Then you love me, don't you? (Kisses her warmly.)
VARVARA. Love you? Of course.
KATERINA. Thank you! you are so sweet, I love you dearly. (Silence) Do you know what I'm thinking?
VARVARA. What?
KATERINA. What a pity people can't fly!
VARVARA. I don't know what you mean.
KATERINA. What a pity people can't fly like birds. Do you know I sometimes fancy I'm a bird. When one stands on a high hill, one feels a longing to fly. One would take a little run, throw up one's arms, and fly away! Couldn't we try it now? (Makes as though she would run.)
VARVARA. What will you make up next?
KATERINA (sighs). How I used to love play and frolic! But in your house I'm growing old and spiritless.
VARVARA. Do you suppose I don't see it?
KATERINA. How different I used to be! I lived without a care in my heart, as free as a bird. Mother adored me, dressed me up like a doll, and never forced me to work; I could do just as I liked. Do you know how I passed my days as a girl? I'll tell you. I used to get up early; if it was summer I used to go to the spring, and bathe, and bring back water with me, and water all the flowers in the house, every one of them. Then mother and I used to go to church, and all the pilgrim women—our house was simply full of pilgrims and holy women. We used to come back from church, and sit down to some work, often embroidery in gold on velvet, while the pilgrim women would tell us where they had been, what they had seen, and the different ways of living in the world, or else they would sing songs. And so the time would pass till dinner. Then the older women lay down for a nap, while I would run about in the garden. Then evensong, and in the evening, stories and singing again. Ah, those were happy days!
VARVARA. But it's pretty much the same with us, if you come to that.
KATERINA. Yes, but here one feels somehow in a cage. And how passionately I loved being in church! It was like stepping into Paradise, and I saw no one and had no thought of time and did not hear when the service was over. It was just as if it were all in one second. Mother used to say that often everyone looked at me and wondered what had come over me! And you know, on a sunny day, such a column of light streamed down from the golden cupola, and a sort of mist moving in the light, like smoke, and at times I seemed to see angels flying and singing in that bright light. And sometimes, dear girl, I would get up at night—we had lamps always burning all over our house,—and fall down in some corner and pray till morning. Or I would go out into the garden early in the morning, when the sun was just rising, fall on my knees and pray and weep, and not know myself what I prayed and wept for; and so they would find me sometimes. And what I was praying for then, what I besought God for—I couldn't say. I wanted nothing, I had enough of everything. And what dreams I used to have, dear Varia, what lovely dreams! Golden temples or gardens of some wonderful sort, and voices of unseen spirits singing, and the sweet scent of cypress and mountains and trees, not such as we always see, but as they are painted in the holy pictures. And sometimes I seemed to be flying, simply flying in the air. I dream sometimes now, but not often, and never dreams like those.
VARVARA. Why, what then?
KATERINA (after a pause). I shall die soon.
VARVARA. What nonsense!
KATERINA. No, I know I shall die. Oh, dear girl, something not good is happening with me, something strange. It has never been like this with me before. There is something in me so incomprehensible. As though I were beginning to live again, or ... I don't know what.
VARVARA. What is the matter with you?
KATERINA (taking her hand). I'll tell you, Varia; some dreadful sin is coming upon me! I have such a terror in my heart, such terror! As though I am standing on the edge of a precipice and someone is pushing me in, and I have nothing to cling to.
[Clutches her head in her hand.]
VARVARA. What's wrong with you? You can't be well.
KATERINA. Yes, I am well.... It would be better if I were ill, it's worse as it is. A dream keeps creeping into my mind, and I cannot get away from it. I try to think—I can't collect my thoughts, I try to pray—but I can't get free by prayer. My lips murmur the words but my heart is far away; as though the evil one were whispering in my ear, and always of such wicked things. And such thoughts rise up within me, that I'm ashamed of myself. What is wrong with me? There's some trouble, something before me! At night I do not sleep, Varia, a sort of murmur haunts me; someone seems speaking so tenderly to me, as it were cooing to me like a dove. And now I never dream, Varia, those old dreams, of trees and mountains in Paradise; but it's as though someone were clasping me passionately—so passionately and leading me, and I follow him, I follow.
VARVARA. Well?
KATERINA. But what things I am saying to you, a young girl like you.
VARVARA (looking about her). You can tell me! I'm worse than you.
KATERINA. Oh what am I to tell you? I'm ashamed.
VARVARA. You've no need! Tell away.
KATERINA. I am stifling, stifling at home, I should like to run away. And the fancy comes to me that if I were my own mistress, I would float down the Volga now, in a boat, to the singing of songs, or I would drive right away clasped close....
VARVARA. But not with your husband.
KATERINA. How do you know that?
VARVARA. As if I didn't know!
KATERINA. Ah, Varia, there is sin in my heart! Alas, how often I have wept, I have done everything I can think of! I can't get free from this sin. I can't escape. Varia, it is wicked, it is a fearful sin—I love someone else!
VARVARA. I'm not likely to be hard upon you! I've sins enough of my own.
KATERINA. What am I to do? I'm at the end of my strength, where can I find help. I'm so wretched, I shall do something dreadful.
VARVARA. Mercy on us! what is coming to you! Come, wait a bit, brother's going away to-morrow, we'll think of something; maybe, you'll be able to see each other.
KATERINA. No, no, that must not be! What are you saying! God forbid!
VARVARA. Why are you frightened?
KATERINA. If I were once to see and speak with him, I should run away from home, I would not go back home for anything in the world.
VARVARA. Oh well, wait a little, and then we shall see.
KATERINA. No, no, don't talk to me, I don't want to hear!
VARVARA. Why wear yourself out for nothing? You may die of grieving, do you suppose they'll be sorry for you? Come, wait a bit. Why, what's the good of making yourself miserable?
[Enter the Old Lady with a stick and two footmen in three-cornered hats behind her.
OLD LADY. Hey, my pretty charmers? What are you doing here? Waiting for young fellows, waiting for your beaus? Are your hearts merry? Merry are they? Are you pleased and proud of your beauty? That's where beauty leads to. (Points to the Volga) Yes, yes, to the bottomless pit! (Varvara smiles.) What, laughing? Let not your heart rejoice! (Knocks with her stick) You will burn all of you in a fire unquenchable. You will boil in the lake of flaming pitch. (Going) That is whither beauty leads you!
[Goes.
KATERINA. Ah, how she frightened me! I'm trembling all over, as if she were foretelling something for me.
VARVARA. Her curse fall on her own head, the old witch!
KATERINA. What was it she said, eh? what did she say?
VARVARA. It was all rubbish. It's silly to listen to her raving. She foretells evil like that to everyone. She was a sinner all her life from her youth up. You should hear the stories they tell about her. So now she's afraid of death. And she must try and frighten others with what she dreads herself. Why even the little street boys hide away from her; she shakes her stick at them and growls (mimicking) "you'll all burn in fire unquenchable!"
KATERINA (shrinking). Ah, ah, stop! I can't bear it!
VARVARA. There's nothing to be frightened of! An old fool....
KATERINA. I am afraid, terribly afraid! I seem to see her all the while before us. [Silence.
VARVARA (looking round). I say, brother doesn't come, and yonder there's a storm coming up.
KATERINA (in terror). A storm! Let us run home! Make haste!
VARVARA. Why, are you crazy? How can you show yourself at home without my brother?
KATERINA. No, let us go home! Never mind him!
VARVARA. But why are you so awfully frightened? The storm's a long way off yet.
KATERINA. If it's so far off, we'll wait then a little, if you like; but really it would be better to go. Yes, we'd better go home.
VARVARA. But if anything were to happen, you know, you'd be no safer at home.
KATERINA. No, but still, it's better there, it's quieter; at home one can turn to the holy pictures and pray to God!
VARVARA. I didn't know you were so afraid of a thunderstorm. I'm not afraid, you see.
KATERINA. Don't talk of not being afraid! Everyone must be afraid. What is dreadful is not it's killing you, but that death may overtake you all of a sudden, just as you are, with all your sins, with all your erring thoughts. I have no fear of death, but when I think that I shall be brought all at once before the face of God just as I am here, with you, after this talk,—that's what is awful! What I had in my heart! What wickedness! fearful to think of! (Thunder.) Ah!
[Enter Kabanov.
VARVARA. Here comes my brother. (To Kabanov) Hurry up!
[Thunder.
KATERINA. Ah! Make haste! Make haste!
GLASHA (packing up clothes in a bundle).
EnterFEKLUSHA.
FEKLUSHA. Dear girl, always at work! What are you doing, my dear?
GLASHA. I'm getting the master's things ready for his journey.
FEKLUSHA. Is he going away then—the light of our eyes?
GLASHA. Yes.
FEKLUSHA. Is he going to be away long, my dear?
GLASHA. No, not long.
FEKLUSHA. Well, God speed him on his way! And say, will the young mistress do a wail for his going or not?
GLASHA. That I can't say, really.
FEKLUSHA. But she does wail at times, I suppose?
GLASHA. Never heard of her doing it.
FEKLUSHA. Well now, my dear, if there's one thing I love, it's to hear a wail well done! (Silence.) And mind you keep a sharp look out, my girl, on the beggar woman below, that she don't lay her hands on anything.
GLASHA. Who's to tell the rights and wrongs of it with you begging pilgrims, you all speak ill of one another. Why can't you live and let live? I should have thought you wandering women get plenty in our house all of you, and yet you must always be quarrelling and nagging at each other. Aren't you afraid of such sin?
FEKLUSHA. One can't be without sin, my good girl; we live in the world. I'll tell you what, my dear; you, simple folk, are tempted of one devil, but we pilgrim folk are beset, one with six, another with twelve devils; and here we have to struggle against all at once. It's a hard fight, my dear, a hard fight!
GLASHA. Why is it you have such a lot?
FEKLUSHA. Ah, my good girl, that comes of the hatred the evil one has for us, because we lead a life of such holiness. But I can't say, my dear, that I'm one to gossip; that's not a sin of mine. One failing I have, truly; I know myself what it is. I love dainty eating. Well, well, the Lord in His mercy provides according to my weakness.
GLASHA. And have you travelled far in your wanderings, Feklusha?
FEKLUSHA. No, my dear, owing to my weakness, I've never gone far away; but many a thing I've heard. They do say, my dear, there are countries where there are no Tsars of the true faith, but Sultans rule the lands. In one land there is the Sultan Mahnoot the Turk on the throne—and in another the Sultan Mahnoot the Persian. And they rule, my good girl, over all men, and whatever they decree it's always unrighteous. And they cannot, my dear, judge righteously in any one thing, such is the ban laid upon them. We have a just law, but they, my dear, an unjust law. Everything that is one way in our land is the very opposite in theirs. And all the judges with them, in their countries, are unjust too, so that, do you know, my girl, they even write in their petitions: "judge me, unjust judge!" And there is a country too where all the men have the heads of dogs.
GLASHA. How do they come to have dogs' heads?
FEKLUSHA. For their infidelity. I am going off on my rounds among the merchant gentry, my dear, to see if there won't be some alms for poverty. Good-bye for the present!
GLASHA. Good-bye! (Exit Feklusha.) Only fancy that there are lands like that! There's no end to the marvels in the world. And here we sit at home and know nothing. A good thing it is to be sure, that there are pious folk; from time to time one hears what is being done in the light of day; if it weren't for them, we should live and die in our foolishness.
Enter Katerina and Varvara.
VARVARA (to Glasha). Carry the bundles down to the chaise, the horses are at the door. (To Katerina) You were married off young, and you never had any fun when you were a girl; and so your heart is restless still.
[Glasha goes out.
KATERINA. And it always will be.
VARVARA. Why?
KATERINA. I have been like that from my birth up, full of fire! I was only six years old, when do you know what I did? They offended me somehow at home,—it was in the evening and quite dark—I ran away to the Volga, and got into a boat, and pushed it off from the bank. They found me next morning, ten miles down the river.
VARVARA. Really! And were there any men in love with you, as a girl?
KATERINA. Of course there were!
VARVARA. Well? And didn't you care for anyone?
KATERINA. No, I only laughed at them.
VARVARA. And you know, Katia, you don't love Tihon.
KATERINA. Oh, yes, I do! I'm dreadfully sorry for him.
VARVARA. Oh, no, you don't. If you're sorry for him you don't love him. And indeed you've no great reason to, I must own. And it's no good your being so close with me! I noticed a long while ago, that you were fond of some one.
KATERINA (with dismay). How did you notice it?
VARVARA. How absurd you are! I'm not a baby! Well, I'll tell you the first sign I knew by; directly you see him, your whole face is transformed. (Katerina drops her eyes.) And that's not all....
KATERINA (still looking down). Well, whom then?
VARVARA. Why, you know, what's the use of telling his name?
KATERINA. No, tell it! Tell his name!
VARVARA. Boris Grigoritch.
KATERINA. Yes, yes, Varia! Only mind, Varia, for pity's sake....
VARVARA. What nonsense!You'dbetter mind, and not betray yourself in any way.
KATERINA. I can't deceive, I don't know how to conceal anything.
VARVARA. But there's no doing without deceit; think where you're living! Our whole house rests on it! I wasn't fond of lying either, but I learnt the trick, when I had to. I was out walking yesterday, and so I saw him and had a few minutes talk with him.
KATERINA (after a short silence, looking down). Well?
VARVARA. He sent greetings to you. He was sorry, he said, that he never meets you.
KATERINA (her head still more bent down). As if we could meet! And what would be the use....
VARVARA. He is so sad and unhappy....
KATERINA. Don't speak to me of him, for goodness' sake, don't speak of him! I don't want to know him even. I will love my husband: Tisha, my dear one, no one shall ever take your place! I did not want to think of him, you tempt me.
VARVARA. All right, don't think of him; no one compels you to.
KATERINA. You have no mercy on me! You say: don't think of him, and you mention him yourself! Do you suppose I want to think of him; but what can I do, when I can't get him out of my mind? Whatever I try to think, he seems always standing before my eyes. And I try to be different, and I can't. Do you know, last night, the evil one tempted me again. I was almost walking straight out of the house.
VARVARA. You are such a fantastical creature, God bless you! What I think is: one should do what one likes, only be sure it's kept dark!
KATERINA. I don't like that. What good can come of it! I had much better bear it as long as I can bear it.
VARVARA. And when you can't bear it, what will you do?
KATERINA. What shall I do?
VARVARA. Yes, what will you do?
KATERINA. Whatever I long to do, I will do.
VARVARA. Just try; why they'd torment you to death.
KATERINA. What do I care! I should go away, and that would be the end of it.
VARVARA. Where would you go? You are a married woman.
KATERINA. Ah, Varia, you don't know me! I pray, of course, it may never come to that! But if I am too miserable here, they would not keep me by any force on earth. I should throw myself out of the window, I should drown myself in the Volga. If I will not to live here, then I would not, they might cut me to pieces! (Silence.)
VARVARA. Do you know what, Katia! When Tihon's gone, let's sleep in the garden, in the summerhouse.
KATERINA. Oh, why, Varia?
VARVARA. Why, isn't it just the same to you?
KATERINA. I'm timid of sleeping in a place I'm not used to.
VARVARA. Timid, nonsense! Glasha will be with us.
KATERINA. Still one feels nervous, somehow! But perhaps I will.
VARVARA. I wouldn't have asked you, only mamma wouldn't let me alone, and I must.
KATERINA (looking at her). What for?
VARVARA.(laughing). We'll tell our fortunes together there.
KATERINA. You must be joking.
VARVARA. To be sure, I am joking; did you think I meant it?
[Silence.
KATERINA. Where can Tihon be?
VARVARA. Why, do you want him?
KATERINA. No, I only wondered, he has to start so soon.
VARVARA. He's sitting locked up with mamma. She's nagging away at him now.
KATERINA. What for?
VARVARA. For nothing at all, teaching him to mind what he's about. He'll be a fortnight away out of her sight! Only fancy! She has an uneasy inkling all the time that he'll enjoy himself when he's his own master. And so she's busy now laying all sorts of injunctions upon him, each more imperative than the last, and then she'll take him up to the holy picture and make him swear solemnly that he'll do everything exactly and precisely according to her bidding.
KATERINA. And so even when he's free he'll be as good as bound.
VARVARA. Bound! Oh, will he! As soon as he gets away, he'll start drinking, you may be sure. He says nothing now, but all the while he's only thinking how to get away as soon as possible.
[Enter Mme. Kabanova and Kabanov.
MME. KABANOVA. Now do you remember everything I've told you? Mind you do remember it! Keep it in your heart!
KABANOV. Yes, mamma.
MME. KABANOVA. Well, now everything is ready. The horses are at the door. You've only to say good-bye and be off in God's name.
KABANOV. Yes, mamma, it's time I was off.
MME. KABANOVA. Well?
KABANOV. What do you desire?
MME. KABANOVA. Why are you standing about? Don't you know the way to do things? Lay your commands upon your wife, exhort her how she is to live in your absence.
[Katerina looks on the ground.
KABANOV. But she knows quite well without that.
MME. KABANOVA. The way you talk! Come, come, give your commands, that I may hear what commands you lay upon her! And then when you come back, you can ask if she has performed everything exactly.
KABANOV (standing opposite Katerina). Obey mamma, Katia.
MME. KABANOVA. Tell her not to be saucy to her mother-in-law.
KABANOV. Don't be saucy!
MME. KABANOVA. To revere her mother-in-law as her own mother.
KABANOV. Revere mamma, Katia, as your own mother.
MME. KABANOVA. Not to sit with her hands in her lap like a fine lady.
KABANOV. Do some work while I am away!
MME. KABANOVA. Not to go staring out of window!
KABANOV. But, mamma, whenever has she....
MME. KABANOVA. Come, come!
KABANOV. Don't look out of window!
MME. KABANOVA. Not to stare at young fellows while you are away!
KABANOV. But that is too much, mamma, for mercy's sake!
MME. KABANOVA (severely). Enough of this nonsense! It's your duty to do what your mother tells you. (With a smile) It's always as well when it's forbidden.
KABANOV (in great confusion). Don't look at young men! [Katerina looks sternly at him.
MME. KABANOVA. Well, now you can talk by yourselves a little, if you want to. Come, Varvara! [They go out.
KABANOV. Katia! (Silence.) Katia, you're not angry with me?
KATERINA (after a protracted silence—shakes her head). No!
KABANOV. But why are you like this? Come, forgive me!
KATERINA (still in the same position, slightly shaking her head). Peace be with you! (Hiding her face in her hands) She has hurt me!
KABANOV. If you take everything to heart so, you'll soon fall into a decline. Why listen to her! You know she must talk! Well then, let her talk, and you let it go in at one ear and out at the other. Come, good-bye, Katia!
KATERINA (falling on her husband's neck). Tisha, don't go away! For God's sake, don't go away! Dear one, I implore you!
KABANOV. I must, Katia. When mamma sends me, how can I not go?
KATERINA. Well, take me with you, do take me!
KABANOV (freeing himself from her embrace). But it's impossible!
KATERINA. Oh, why, Tisha, impossible?
KABANOV. Much fun there would be in going with you! You've worried me out of my life here between you! No sooner have I a hope of escaping than you want to fasten yourself upon me.
KATERINA. Why, can it be that you are tired of me?
KABANOV. No, I'm not tired of you; but to get out of this slavery a man would run away from the loveliest woman in the world! Just consider for a minute; I may not be good for much; but I'm a man anyway; and living all my life as you see, one's glad to run away from one's wife even. Why, when I think now, that for two whole weeks there'll be no storm hanging over me, no fetters on my legs,—do you suppose I can think of my wife?
KATERINA. How can I care for you, when you say things like that?
KABANOV. Say things? Why, what things am I to say? God knows what it is you're afraid of! You won't be alone, you know, you'll be with mamma.
KATERINA. Don't speak of her, don't torture my heart! Ah, how wretched I am, how wretched! (Weeps.) Where can I go? Whom can I cling to? Merciful Heavens, I am lost!
KABANOV. Come, be quiet!
KATERINA (goes up to her husband and draws him to her). Tisha, dear one, if you would stay, if you would take me with you, how I would love you, how I would cherish you, my dear one!
KABANOV. I can't make you out, Katia! Often there's no getting a word out of you, to say nothing of a kiss, and now you come coaxing up to me of your own accord.
KATERINA. Tisha, what are you leaving me to? There'll be trouble when you're away! There'll be trouble!
KABANOV. Now, come, I can't, so it's no use.
KATERINA. Well, here then! Take from me some dreadful vow....
KABANOV. What vow?
KATERINA. A vow that I will not dare while you're away on any ground whatever to speak with any outsider, nor see anyone,—that I will not even dare to think of anyone but you.
KABANOV. But what's this for?
KATERINA. Set my heart at rest, do this for me!
KABANOV. But one can never answer for oneself like that, anything may come into one's head.
KATERINA (falling on her knees). May I never look upon my father nor my mother! May I die impenitent, if I...
KABANOV (pulling her up). Hush! Nonsense! What wickedness is this! I won't hear you!
[Voice of Mme. Kabanova heard without, "It's time to start, Tihon!" Enter Mme. Kabanova, Varvara and Glasha.
MME. KABANOVA, VARVARA and GLASHA.
MME. KABANOVA. Come, Tihon, it's time now! Set off on your way in God's name! (sits down). Sit down, all of you! (All sit down. Silence.) Now, good-bye! (Gets up and all get up.)
KABANOV (going up to his mother). Good-bye, mamma!
MME. KABANOVA (with a wave of her hand points him to the ground). At my feet! At my feet! (Kabanov bows down to her feet, then kisses his mother.) Say good-bye to your wife.
KABANOV. Good-bye, Katia! [Katerina falls on his neck.
MME. KABANOVA. What do you want to hang on his neck like that for, shameless hussy! It's not a lover you're parting from! He's your husband—your head! Don't you know how to behave? Bow down at his feet! [Katerina bows down to his feet.
KABANOV. Good-bye, sister (kisses Varvara). Good-bye! Glasha (kisses Glasha). Good-bye, mamma! (bows down to the ground).
MME. KABANOVA. Good-bye! Long farewells mean foolish tears. [Kabanov goes out, after him Katerina, Varvara, and Glasha.
MME. KABANOVA. The way young folks behave! It makes one laugh really to see them! If they weren't my own, I could laugh till I split. They don't know the way to do anything properly. Can't even take leave with decorum. A lucky thing it is for them that they have elder folk, who will keep their house together as long as they're living. And yet, the silly fools, they long to be their own masters, though when they do have their own way, they get in a mess directly to the scandal and amusement of all worthy folk. One here and there, to be sure, will be sorry for them, but for the most part they'll all laugh. No one can help laughing either; they'll invite guests, and not know how they should sit, and what's more, as likely as not, they leave out some one of their relations. It's simply comical. But the old order's passing away. There are some houses one doesn't care to go into. If you do cross the threshold, all you can do is to spit, and get away as quick as may be. What will happen when the old people are dead, how the world will go on, I really can't think. I'm thankful anyway, that I shall see nothing of it.
[Enter Katerina and Varvara.
You make a boast of loving your husband so much; I see now how much your love's worth. Any other good wife, on seeing her husband off, would wail for a good hour and a half, lying on the steps; but one can see you're not much upset.
KATERINA. There's no reason to be! Besides, I don't know how to wail. Why make the people laugh!
MME. KABANOVA. No great art is needed. If you loved him you would have learnt to do it. If you can't wail properly, you should wail a little, if only for example. It is always more decorous; or else one sees it is all words with you. Well, I'm going to pray to God; do not interrupt me.
VARVARA. I'm going out.
MME. KABANOVA (caressingly). I've nothing against it! Go and enjoy yourself till your time comes. You'll have sitting indoors enough later on! [Exeunt Mme. Kabanova and Varvara.
KATERINA (alone, dreamily). Well, now, peace reigns in our house! Ah, the dreariness. If only there were children! That's the saddest thing! I have no children; I should sit with them and amuse them all day. I love talking to little children—they are angels, really. (Silence.) If I had died when I was little, it would have been better. I should have looked down on to the earth from Heaven and been delighted with everything. I should have flown unseen wherever I liked. I would have floated into the country and fluttered from flower to flower, like a butterfly. (Sinks into a reverie) I know what I will do; I will begin some piece of work, as an offering to God. I will go to the bazaar, and buy some stuff and make some clothes to give to the poor. They will remember me in their prayers. And so I'll sit sewing with Varvara, and we shall not notice how the time passes; and soon Tisha will be back.
[Enter Varvara.
VARVARA (putting a kerchief on her head before the looking-glass). I am just going out for a walk now; Glasha's putting our beds in the summer house now, mamma's consented to let us sleep there. Mamma always keeps the little gate in the garden behind the raspberries locked up and hides the key. I've taken it and put another one in its place for her, so she won't notice it. Here, see, maybe, it will be wanted (gives the key). If I see him, I shall tell him to come to the little gate.
KATERINA (with horror, pushing away the key). What for! what for! No! no!
VARVARA. If you don't want it, I do; take it, it won't bite you!
KATERINA. But what are you plotting, wicked girl? It's impossible! Do you know what you're doing? It's dreadful, dreadful!
VARVARA. Well, well—Least said is soonest mended; and I've no time to stay either. It's time for my walk.
[Goes.