MÍTYA. This is what I have to say: Get her ready and put on her warm clothes. Let her slip out quietly; I'll seat her in my fairy sleigh, and that's the last of us. Then the old man will never see her any more than his own ears! And no matter if I do go to ruin! I will take her to my mother and there we will get married. Oh, just give us a chance! I want some joy in life! At any rate, if I have to pay the price, at least I shall know that I've really lived. PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. What do you mean? What do you mean, you scamp? LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA. What an idea, Mítya! MÍTYA. So you don't love me? Or have you ceased to love me? LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA. What you say is dreadful! PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. What an idea, you scamp! Who would dare to take such a sin on his soul? Yes, come to your senses! What are you thinking of? MÍTYA. Why, I said if you're sorry! But if you're not sorry--then give her to Afrikán Savvich; sell her into slavery forever and ever. You'll be miserable yourselves when you see her wretched life; you'll come to your senses, you and Gordéy Kárpych, but then it will be too late. PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. But how could you, without her father's blessing? How could you? Judge for yourself! MÍTYA. Certainly, how could we live without a blessing! Then you bless us, Pelagéya Egórovna. [_Kneels down_] and Gordéy Kárpych, it may be--himself, in time--somehow--- PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. What can I say to you? I feel altogether distracted.--Yes, I'm going out of my mind! I don't know anything! I don't remember anything! Yes, yes, my head spins. Oh, my darlings, my heart is torn! LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA. _Goes to MÍTYA_] No, Mítya, this can't be! Don't torture yourself for nothing; stop! [Raises him up] Don't tear my soul! Already my heart is all withered away within me! God be with you; good-by! MÍTYA. Why did you deceive me and mock at me? LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA. Don't, Mítya! Why should I deceive you? Why? I fell in love with you; so I told you, myself. But now we must not go against the will of our parents. For it is the will of my father that I should marry; I must submit to him--that is a girl's lot. It must be that that's the right thing since it was so ordained of old. I don't want to go against my father; I don't wish people to talk about me and make an example of me. Although it may be I have broken my heart because of this--at any rate I know that I am acting according to law; no one will dare to look me in the face and jeer. Good-by! [_They kiss_] MÍTYA. Well, now I know my fate! [_LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA seats herself on the sofa and weeps_] Good-by! [_Bows to PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA_] Good-by, Pelagéya Egórovna, you have been my benefactress! So long as I live I shall not forget your goodness and kindness to me; you did not forget the orphan in a strange land. PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. Good-by, my dear; do not blame us in any way--that would be a sin for you. God grant that you may live happily; we shall not forget you. MÍTYA _bows and goes out_. SCENE VII