PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. Oh, don't speak of it to me, don't speak of it! I'm distracted enough about it without your saying anything. I've worn my eyes out with gazing at her! If I could only look at her enough to last me forever! It's as if I were getting ready to bury her. MÍTYA. [Nearly weeping] How can such things happen? How can people do such things? She's your own daughter, I suppose! PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. If she weren't my own, then I shouldn't be weeping and wailing, and my heart wouldn't be breaking over her tears. MÍTYA. Why weep? It would be better not to marry her. Why are you ruining the girl's life, and giving her into slavery? Isn't this a sin? You will have to answer for it to God. PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. I know, I know it all, but I tell you, Mítya, it's not my doing. Why do you keep on blaming me? It's horrible enough for me without your talking about it, and you stir me up still more. Mítya, you should pity me! MÍTYA. It's true, Pelagéya Egórovna, but I can't endure this sorrow. Maybe it's worse for me than for you! I trust you so much, Pelagéya Egórovna, that I will open my heart to you as if you were my own mother. [_Dries his eyes with his handkerchief_] Yesterday evening, when you were having the evening party. [_Tears prevent him from speaking_] PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. Well, well, tell me, tell me! MÍTYA. Well, then, she and I made a compact in the dark, that we would go together to you and to Gordéy Kárpych, and beg you humbly; we were going to say: "Give us your blessing; we cannot live without each other any longer." [_Dries his tears_] And now suddenly, this morning, I heard--and my arms just dropped by my side! PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. What are you saying? MÍTYA. I swear it, Pelagéya Egórovna, in the name of the Lord! PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. Oh, my dear boy! What a luck-less lad you are, now that I know all! _LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA comes in._ SCENE VI The same and LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. Here, Lyubóv dear! Mítya has come to say good-by; he is going away from here to his mother's. MÍTYA. [Bows] Good-by, Lyubóv Gordéyevna! Don't bear me any ill will! LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA. Good-by, Mítya! [_Bows_] PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. Kiss each other good-by; it may be that God will not let you see each other again. Well, never mind! [_MÍTYA and LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA kiss each other; she seats herself on the sofa and weeps; MÍTYA also weeps_] Stop, stop your weeping! you will drive me wild! MÍTYA. Oh, I'll risk everything now; everything in the world! [_Goes to PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA_] Pelagéya Egórovna, are you sorry to marry your daughter to an old man, or not? PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. If I weren't sorry, I shouldn't be crying. MÍTYA. Will you permit me to speak, Pelagéya Egórovna? PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. Speak!