_Pod_ (_alone_). Indeed, what have I been, until now? Have I understood the meaning of life? No, I have understood nothing. What has my bachelor life been worth? What have I done? Of what consequence have I been? I have lived and lived, served, gone to the Department, dined, slept—in a word, I have been a quite ordinary and frivolous man. It is only now I see how foolish are all the people who do not marry. And yet, if you think of it, what a number of people are in that state of blindness! If I were a king anywhere, I would command that everybody should marry, every single person, that there shouldn’t be one bachelor in all my kingdom. Really, to think of it, in a few minutes I shall be married! Suddenly I shall taste such bliss as one only hears about in fairy-tales—bliss that there is no describing, there are no words to describe it. (_After a short silence._) All the same, put it how you like—but there’s really something almost dreadful in it when you think it over. For all one’s life, for ever—you can’t get over the fact that you’re tying yourself. And once it’s done, no excuse will help you, no remorse, nothing, nothing—everything’s finished; all is over. Why, even now there’s no way out of it; we shall be before the altar in a few minutes. I couldn’t go away if I wanted to—the carriage is at the door; everything’s ready. I wonder, though, couldn’t I go away? Why no, of course not; there are heaps of people at the door, and everywhere, and they’d ask me why. No, no, it won’t do! By the by, there’s the window open; what if I jumped out. No, no; oh, no; it wouldn’t do; it wouldn’t be proper—and then, it’s so high. (_Goes to window._) Well, I don’t know; it isn’t so high; only one story, and that a low one. Why, no, no, of course I can’t; I haven’t even got my hat; I can’t go without a hat, it would seem so queer! Couldn’t I manage without a hat, though, after all? What if I were to try? H—’m. I might as well try. (_Clambers on to window-sill and crosses himself._) Lord, give Thy blessing![13] (_Jumps down into the street. Heard grunting and groaning without._) Oh! oh! It’s a good height though! Hi, _drozhki_! _Cabman’s voice_ (_without_). _Drozhki_, sir? _Pod._ (_without_). To the canal, by the Semyònovsky bridge. _Cabman_ (_without_). I don’t mind going for ten kopecks. _Pod._ (_without_). All right! Make haste! (_Drozhki is heard to drive away. Enter_ AGÀFIA _in her wedding-dress, walking timidly and hanging her head_.) _Agàfia._ I really don’t know what is come to me. I feel ashamed again, and I am trembling all over. Oh! I wish he weren’t in the room just this minute; I wish he’d gone out! (_Looking round shyly._) Why, where is he? There’s no one here! Where can he be gone? (_Opens door into hall and calls._) Fèkla, where is Ivàn Kouzmìch gone? _Fèkla_ (_without_). He’s there. _Agàfia._ Where? _Fèkla_ (_entering_). But he was sitting in this room! _Agàfia._ Well, he isn’t here, you see.