Works of Ivan Turgenev (Illustrated) (413 page)
Read Works of Ivan Turgenev (Illustrated) Online
Authors: IVAN TURGENEV
RAKITIN. I thank you . . . Lizaveta Bogdanovna. . . .
[Bows to her. She curtsies in reply. He goes into outer room.]
SHPIGELSKY
[going up to kiss
ANNA SEMYONOVNA’S
hand].
Good - bye, gracious lady. .. .
ANNA SEMYONOVNA
[less majestically but still severely],
Ah! you are going too, Doctor. . . .
SHPIGELSKY. Yes. My patients, you know, madam. . . . Besides, you see my presence here is not needed.
[As he bows himself out, winks slyly at
LIZAVETA BOGDANOVNA,
who replies with a smile.]
Good - bye for the present. . . .
[Runs off after
RAKITIN.]
ANNA SEMYONOVNA
[lets him disappear, then folding her arms, turns deliberately to
LIZAVETA BOGDANOVNA]. And what do you think of all this, my dear, pray?
LIZAVETA BOGDANOVNA
[sighing].
I really don’t know what to say, Anna Semyonovna.
ANNA SEMYONOVNA. Did you hear, Beliayev too has gone? . . .
LIZAVETA BOGDANOVNA
[sighing again].
Ah, Anna Semyonovna, perhaps I, too, may not be staying here much longer. ... I too am going away. [ANNA SEMYONOVNA
stares at her in unutterable amazement.
LIZAVETA BOGDANOVNA
stands before her, without raising her eyes.]
CURTAIN
CHARACTERS IN THE PLAY
Alexey Ivanovitch Stupendyev, a district Government clerk, aged 48.
Darya Ivanovna, his wife, aged 28.
Misha, a distant cousin of Darya Ivanovna, aged 19.
Valeryan Nikolayevitch, Count Lyubin, aged 49.
Valet of the Count, aged 30.
Vassilyevna, Stupendyev’s cook, aged 50.
Apollon, Stupendyev’s house - boy, aged 17.
The action takes place in a provincial town in the house of the Stupendyevs.
The drawing - room in the house of a not well - to - do Government clerk. In Centre, door into hall; on Right, door into study; on Left, two windows and door into little garden. On Left in corner, a low screen and in foreground a sofa, two chairs, a little table, and an embroidery frame; on Right, a small piano in background, and in foreground a table and chair. Darya Ivanovna is sitting at embroidery frame. She is simply but tastefully dressed. Misha is sitting quietly on the sofa, reading a book.
Darya [going on with her work and not raising her eyes]. Misha!
Misha [putting down the book]. What is it? Darya. Have you . . . been to Popov’s? Misha. Yes. Darya. What did he say?
Misha. He said that everything shall be sent punctually. I particularly asked him about the red wine. You can be sure of that, he said. [A pause.] May I ask, are you expecting somebody, Darya Ivanovna? Darya. I am.
Misha [again a pause]. May I ask, whom? Darya. You are inquisitive. However, you are not a gossip, and I can tell you whom I am expecting, Count Lyubin.
Misha. That rich gentleman who has come to his estate here lately? Darya. Yes.
Misha. Well, he is expected to - day at Kulyeshkin’s hotel. But may I ask, do you know him?
Darya. I don’t now.
Misha. Ah! then you used to?
Darya. Are you cross - examining me?
Misha. I beg your pardon. [J pause.] It was stupid of me to ask, though. Of course he must be the son of the Countess Lyubin who was your benefactress.
Darya [,looking at him]. Yes, my benefactress.
[Behind the scenes the voice of Stupendyev is heard: ‘Told you not to? Why did she tell you not to?’]
Darya. What’s the matter out there?
[Stupendyev and Vassilyevna come in from the study, Stupendyev in shirtsleeves and waistcoat; Vassilyevna with a man’s coat in her hands.]
Stupendyev [to Darya], Dasha, did you really tell? ... [Misha stands up and bows.] Ah, good morning, Misha, good morning. Did you really tell this woman [Points to Vassilyevna] not to give me my dressing - gown to - day, eh?
Darya. I did not.
Stupendyev [turning to Vassilyevna with a triumphant expression]. There”! Now then?
Darya. I only told her to ask you not to put on your dressing - gown. . . .
Stupendyev. Why, what’s wrong with my dressing - gown? It’s so pretty with its stripes and patterns. You gave it me yourself!
Darya. That was a very long time ago!
Vassilyevna. Come, put on your coat, Alexey Ivan - ovitch, put it on. ... Upon my word!. . . A fine sight — your striped gown! It’s in holes at the elbows, and looked at from behind it’s simply a disgrace.
Stupendyev [putting on his coat]. And who told you to look at me from behind? Gently, gently! Didn’t you hear? You ought to have asked me.
Vassilyevna. Oh, go on with you. . . . [Goes out.]
Stupendyev [calling after her]. Don’t argue, woman! It’s awful how it cuts me under the arms, hang it all! These miserable tailors! I feel as though I were being dragged up on a string. Really, Dasha, I can’t understand what possesses you to want to rig me out in my best coat; it will soon be eleven o’clock, time to go to the office, and then I shall have to put on my uniform anyway.
Darya. We may be having visitors.
Stupendyev. Visitors? What visitors?
Darya. Count Lyubin. You know who he is, don’t you?
Stupendyev. Lyubin? I should think so. So you’re expecting him?
Darya. Yes. [Glancing at him.] What is there so marvellous in that?
Stupendyev. There’s nothing marvellous in it, I quite agree with you; but let me tell you, my love, it’s absolutely out of the question.
Darya. Why so?
Stupendyev. It’s out of the question, absolutely out of the question. What should he come here for?
Darya. He has to talk things over with you.
Stupendyev. Suppose he has, suppose he has, but that proves nothing, that proves absolutely nothing. He’ll send for me to go to him. He’ll just send for me.
Darya. I used to know him; he used to see me at his mother’s.
Stupendyev. That proves nothing either. What do you think, Misha?
Misha. Me? I don’t think anything.
Stupendyev [to his wife]. There you see. . . . He won’t come. . . . Really how you can. . . .
Darya. Very well, perhaps not; but don’t take off your coat. . . .
Stupendyev [after a pause], I quite agree with you, though. [Walking up and down the room.] So that’s why they’ve been stirring up such a dust all the morning
Oh, this hateful tidying! And you’re dressed up to the nines!
Darya. No personal remarks, Alexis, please.
Stupendyev. No, no, no. personal remarks, of course. . . . This Count has run through his fortune, it seems, and that’s why he’s come into these parts. Is he a young man?
Darya. Younger than you.
Stupendyev. H’m. . . . Quite, I quite agree with you. ... So that’s why you kept on practising on the piano yesterday. . . . [.Flings wide his hands.] Yes, yes. [Hums through his teeth.]
Misha. I looked in at Kulyeshkin’s this morning. They’re expecting him there.
Stupendyev. They are? Well, let them expect. [To his wife.]. How was it I never saw him at Countess Lyubin’s?
Darya. He was in the Government service in Petersburg then. . . .
Stupendyev. H’m. . . . He’s high up in the service now, I’m told. And you imagine he’ll come to see us. What an idea!
[Apollon comes in from Hall. He is wearing a very badly fitting, light blue livery, adorned with white buttons. His face wears an expression of vacant astonishment.]
Apollon [mysteriously to Stupendyev]. There’s a gentleman asking for you Stupendyev [alarmed,]. What sort of gentleman?
Apollon. I don’t know, in a hat and whiskers.
Stupendyev [agitated]. Show him in. [Apollon glances mysteriously at Stupendyev and goes out.] Can it be the Count?
[The Count’s Valet comes in from hall. He is stylishly dressed in travelling clothes and he does not take off his hat. Vassilyevna and Apollon peep in inquisitively at hall - door.]
Valet [with German accent]. Does Mr. Stupendyev, a Government clerk, live here?
Stupendyev. Yes. What is your pleasure?
Valet. Are you Mr. Stupendyev?
Stupendyev. Yes. What is your pleasure?
Darya. Alexey Ivanitch!
Valet. Count Lyubin has arrived and told me to ask you to go to him.
Stupendyev. Then you come from him?
Darya. Alexey Ivanitch, come here.
Stupendyev [going up to her]. Well?
Darya. Tell him to take off his hat.
Stupendyev. You think so? H’m. . . . Yes, yes. [Going up to the Valet.] Don’t you feel it rather warm in here? . . . [Motioning towards his hat.]
Valet. Here it is not warm. Consequently, you will come at once?
Stupendyev. I’ll. . . . [Darya makes a sign to him.J But allow me to ask who are you exactly?
Valet. I am his Excellency’s hired man ... his valet.
Stupendyev [suddenly firing up]. Take off your hat, take off your hat, take off your hat, I tell you! [The Valet slowly and with dignity removes his hat.] And tell his Excellency that I’ll lose no time. . . .
Darya [standing up]. Tell the Count that my husband is very busy j ust now and cannot leave the house. And that if the Count wishes to see him, let him come himself. You can go. [Valet goes out.]
Stupendyev [to Darya], Really though, Dasha, I think you ... [Darya walks up and down without speaking.] I quite agree with you, though. But didn’t I give it him, eh? Sent him off with a flea in his ear, as the saying is. An impudent fellow! [To Misha.] That was well done, wasn’t it?
Misha. It was, Alexey Ivanitch, very well.
Stupendyev. To be sure it was.
Darya. Apollon!
[Apollon comes in, followed by Vassilyevna.]
Darya [gazing for some time at Apollon]. No, you are too absurd in that livery. You’d better not show yourself.
Vassilyevna. What’s there absurd about him, ma’am, pray? He’s the same as anybody else and my nephew too....
Stupendyev. Woman, don’t argue!
Darya [to Apollon]. Turn round! [Apollon turns round.] No, you certainly must not appear before the Count. Go along and keep in hiding somewhere.... And you, Vassilyevna, sit in the hall, please.
Vassilyevna. But I’ve my work to do in the kitchen, ma’am.
Stupendyev. Who tells you to do your work, you saucy woman?
Vassilyevna. Upon my word. . . .
Stupendyev. Don’t argue, woman! For shame! Off now, both of you! [Vassilyevna and Apollon go out.] [To Darya.] And so you really imagine that the Count will come now?
Darya. I do.
Stupendyev [walking about], I’m upset. ... He will come in a rage. . . . I’m upset.
Darya. Please be as calm and cool as you can.
Stupendyev. I will. But I’m upset. Misha, aren’t you upset?
Misha. No, Alexey Ivanitch, I’m not.
Stupendyev. Well, I’m upset. . . . [To Darya.] Why didn’t you let me go to him?
Darya. That’s my business. Remember that he can’t do without you.
