LYÚBA. How terrible! And you will be kept here? [Weeps]. BORÍS. I am not afraid of it, I'm afraid of nothing now! I feel so happy, the only thing I fear is what you feel about it. Do help me; I am sure you will! LYÚBA. Can I be glad about it? NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. Not glad, that is impossible. I myself am not glad. I suffer on his account and would gladly take his place, but though I suffer I yet know that it is well. LYÚBA. It may be well; but when will they set him free? BORÍS. No one knows. I do not think of the future. The present is so good, and you can make it still better. Enter the Princess, his mother. PRINCESS. I can wait no longer! [To Nicholas Ivánovich] Well, have you persuaded him? Does he agree? Bórya, my darling, you understand, don't you, what I suffer? For thirty years I have lived but for you; rearing you, rejoicing in you. And now when everything has been done and is complete--you suddenly renounce everything. Prison and disgrace! Oh no! Bórya! BORÍS. Mamma! Listen to me. PRINCESS [to Nicholas Ivánovich] Why do you say nothing? You have ruined him, it is for you to persuade him. It's all very well for you! Lyúba, do speak to him! LYÚBA. I cannot! BORÍS. Mamma, do understand that there are things that are as impossible as flying; and I cannot serve in the army. PRINCESS. You think that you can't! Nonsense. Everybody has served and does serve. You and Nicholas Ivánovich have invented some new sort of Christianity which is not Christianity, but a devilish doctrine to make everybody suffer! BORÍS. As is said in the Gospels! PRINCESS. Nothing of the kind, or if it is, then all the same it is stupid. Darling, Bórya, have pity on me. [Throws herself on his neck, weeps] My whole life has been nothing but sorrow. There was but one ray of joy, and you are turning it into torture. Bórya--have pity on me! BORÍS. Mamma, this is terribly hard on me. But I cannot explain it to you. PRINCESS. Come now, don't refuse--say you will serve! NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. Say you will think it over--and do think it over. BORÍS. Very well then. But you too, Mamma, should have pity on me. It is hard on me too. [Cries are again heard from the corridor]. You know I'm in a lunatic asylum, and might really go mad. Enter Head Doctor. HEAD DOCTOR. Madam, this may have very bad consequences. Your son is in a highly excited condition. I think we must put an end to this interview. You may call on visiting days--Thursdays and Sundays. Please come to see him before twelve o'clock. PRINCESS. Very well, very well, I will go. Bórya, good-bye! Think it over. Have pity on me and meet me next Thursday with good news! NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH [shaking hands with Borís] Think it over with God's help, and as if you knew you were to die to-morrow. Only so will you decide rightly. Good-bye. BORÍS [approaching Lyúba] And what do you say to me?