LISA. I ask you because I know you're so fond of him. KARENIN. Of him--and of you too. Thank you for trusting me. I'll do all I can. LISA. I know you will. Now I'm going to tell you everything. I went to-day to Afremov's, to find out where he was. They told me he was living with the gypsies. Of course that's what I was afraid of. I know he'll be swept off his feet if he isn't stopped in time. So you'll go, won't you? KARENIN. Where's the place? LISA. It's that big tenement where the gypsy orchestra lives, on the left bank below the bridge. I went there myself. I went as far as the door, and was just going to send up the letter, but somehow I was afraid. I don't know why. And then I thought of you. Tell him, tell him I've forgotten everything and that I'm here waiting for him to come home. (Crosses to KARENIN--a little pause.) Do it out of love for him, Victor, and out of friendship for me. [Another pause. KARENIN. I'll do all I can. [He bows to her and goes out L.U. Enter SASHA L.U., goes L. over near table C. SASHA. Has the letter gone? (LISA nods.) He had no objections to taking it himself? [LISA, R. C., shakes head. SASHA (L.C.). Why did you ask him? I don't understand it. LISA. Who else was there? SASHA. But you know he's in love with you. LISA. Oh, that's all past. (Over to table C.) Do you think Fedya will come back? SASHA. I'm sure he will, but-- [Enter ANNA PAVLOVNA. ANNA PAVLOVNA. Where's Victor Karenin? LISA. Gone. ANNA PAVLOVNA. Gone? LISA. I've asked him to do something for me. ANNA PAVLOVNA. What was it? Another secret? LISA. No, not a secret. I simply asked him to take a letter to Fedya. ANNA PAVLOVNA. To Fedor Protosov? LISA. Oh, to Fedya, Fedya. ANNA PAVLOVNA. Then it's not going to be over? LISA. I can't let him leave me. ANNA PAVLOVNA. Oh, so we shall commence all over again? LISA. I'll do anything you like, but I can't give him up. ANNA PAVLOVNA. You don't mean you want him to come back? LISA. Yes, yes. ANNA PAVLOVNA. Let that reptile into the house again! LISA. Please don't talk like that. He's my husband. ANNA PAVLOVNA. Was your husband. LISA. No. He's still my husband. ANNA PAVLOVNA. Spendthrift. Drunkard. Reprobate. And you'll not part from him! LISA. Oh, Mother, why do you keep on hurting me! You seem to enjoy it. ANNA PAVLOVNA. Hurt you, do I? Enjoy it, do I? Very well, then, if that's the case, I'd better go. [Pause. I see I'm in your way. You want me to go. Well, all I can say is I can't make you out. I suppose you're being "modern" and all that. But to me, it's just plain disgusting. First, you make up your mind to separate from your husband, and then you up and send for another man who's in love with you-- LISA. Mother, he's not. ANNA PAVLOVNA. You know Karenin proposed to you, and he's the man you pick out to bring back your husband. I suppose you do it just to make him jealous. LISA. Oh, Mother, stop it. Leave me alone.