LUKÉRYA. Well, run along! run along!
TATYÁNA _goes out_.
SCENE IX
LUKÉRYA _and later_ AFÓNYA
LUKÉRYA. [_At the window_] Just look at her! She's flying like an arrow.
Who'd scheme for her if I didn't? She's a pretty girl, only she hasn't
any sense, and that's bad. She has to be taught everything; she has to be
looked after as though she were a small child. If I hadn't advised her to
make up with her husband, what would have happened? Quarrel and abuse.
She probably wouldn't have wanted to give in; then there'd have been a
continual squabble in the house and scandal among the neighbors. But now
she can do as she likes; everything will be smoothed over. _Enter_ AFÓNYA.
AFÓNYA. Where is Tatyána? Where is she, where is she?
LUKÉRYA. What do you want her for?
AFÓNYA. I need her. Tell me, where? Tell me, where?
LUKÉRYA. Probably in the garden.
AFÓNYA. Why are you fooling me? For once in your life tell the truth! Has
she gone? Speak, has she gone?
LUKÉRYA. Maybe she has gone.
AFÓNYA. Did she just slip out of the gate?
LUKÉRYA. Probably it was she. Wasn't it for thread she went? She's been
wanting to run over to the neighbor's for some time.
AFÓNYA. For thread?
LUKÉRYA. Well, yes, for thread.
AFÓNYA. You lie, lie!
LUKÉRYA. Leave me alone! Why are you worrying me? Why did you leave
grandfather?
AFÓNYA. That's none of your business. I know where she went. You're devils.
You've deceived brother. I saw it long ago in your eyes; in your eyes
flames flickered, devilish flames!
LUKÉRYA. My, but you're a malicious imp!
AFÓNYA. You just wait, just wait! You'll get sick of deceiving us; I'll
show you up.
LUKÉRYA. Don't threaten! We're not afraid of you.
AFÓNYA. [_With tears_] Heavens! My God! What's all this? What a man it is
they're deceiving before his very eyes! [_Runs out_.
ACT IV
TABLEAU I
_A street before_ PROKÓFYEVNA'_s house. Twilight_
SCENE I
ULYÁNA _and_ PROKÓFYEVNA _come out of the gate_
PROKÓFYEVNA. What is it, Ulyana! What is it! How is it possible! Don't
think of such a thing! You just imagined it. Believe me, you just imagined
it.
ULYÁNA. Say what you like about imagining! Thank Heaven, I'm not blind yet.
Not to recognize her! Why, I'd pick her out of a thousand by her dress. We
have only one style for our clothes; on holidays we don't wear the clothes
she does on week-days. You and I were just coming out of the door, and she
was just going in to see him.
PROKÓFYEVNA. I tell you it's a mistake. It's true, she isn't without
faults. There's a woman here who comes to him, and looks like her, but it
isn't she. What's that to me! Wouldn't I tell you? But if it isn't true,
then why talk nonsense?
ULYÁNA. You're just helping them out.
PROKÓFYEVNA. Don't tell wrong stories, Ulyana; don't tell wrong stories!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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