NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. My dear, my darling, I know you find it hard and are frightened, though you should not be so. After all, I am a man who understands life. Nothing evil can happen. All that appears evil really makes one's heart more joyful; only understand that a man who has started on that path will have to choose, and it sometimes happens that God's side and the Devil's weigh so equally that the scales oscillate, and it is then that the great choice has to be made. At that point any interference from outside is terribly dangerous and tormenting. It is as though a man were making such terrible efforts to draw a weight over a ridge that the slightest touch would cause him to break his back. LYÚBA. Why should he suffer so? NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. That is as though a mother were to ask why she should suffer. There can be no childbirth without suffering, and it is the same in spiritual life. One thing I can tell you. Borís is a true Christian, and consequently is free, and if you cannot as yet be like him, or believe in God as he does, then believe in God through him. MARY IVÁNOVNA [behind door] May I come in? NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. You may always come in. What a reception I'm having here to-day. MARY IVÁNOVNA. Our priest, Vasíly Nikonórovich, has come. He is going to the Bishop, and has resigned his living! NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. Impossible! MARY IVÁNOVNA. He is here! Lyúba, go and call him! He wants to see you. [Exit Lyúba]. I had another reason for coming. I want to speak to you about Ványa. He behaves abominably, and does his lesson so badly that he can't possibly pass; and when I speak to him he is rude. NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. Mary, you know I am out of sympathy with the whole manner of life you are all leading, and with the education you are giving to the children. It is a terrible question for me, whether I have a right to see them perishing before my very eyes ... MARY IVÁNOVNA. Then you should suggest something else, something definite. But what do you offer? NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. I cannot say what. But can only say that first we should get rid of all this depraving luxury. MARY IVÁNOVNA. So that they should become peasants! I cannot agree to that. NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. Then don't consult me. The things that grieve you are natural and inevitable. Enter Priest and Lyúba. The Priest and Nicholas Ivánovich kiss[34] one another. [34] It is not unusual among Russians for men-friends to kiss one another; but it is quite unusual for a man of position to kiss a village priest who calls as a visitor--and it indicates great intimacy or great emotion. NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. Is it possible that you have thrown it all up? PRIEST. I could stand it no longer. NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. I did not expect it so soon. PRIEST. But it was really impossible. In our calling we cannot be indifferent. We have to hear confessions, and to administer the Sacrament, and when once one has become convinced that it is all not true ...