VARVARA. All right, don't think of him; no one compels you to. KATERINA. You have no mercy on me! You say: don't think of him, and you mention him yourself! Do you suppose I want to think of him; but what can I do, when I can't get him out of my mind? Whatever I try to think, he seems always standing before my eyes. And I try to be different, and I can't. Do you know, last night, the evil one tempted me again. I was almost walking straight out of the house. VARVARA. You are such a fantastical creature, God bless you! What I think is: one should do what one likes, only be sure it's kept dark! KATERINA. I don't like that. What good can come of it! I had much better bear it as long as I can bear it. VARVARA. And when you can't bear it, what will you do? KATERINA. What shall I do? VARVARA. Yes, what will you do? KATERINA. Whatever I long to do, I will do. VARVARA. Just try; why they'd torment you to death. KATERINA. What do I care! I should go away, and that would be the end of it. VARVARA. Where would you go? You are a married woman. KATERINA. Ah, Varia, you don't know me! I pray, of course, it may never come to that! But if I am too miserable here, they would not keep me by any force on earth. I should throw myself out of the window, I should drown myself in the Volga. If I will not to live here, then I would not, they might cut me to pieces! (_Silence._) VARVARA. Do you know what, Katia! When Tihon's gone, let's sleep in the garden, in the summerhouse. KATERINA. Oh, why, Varia? VARVARA. Why, isn't it just the same to you? KATERINA. I'm timid of sleeping in a place I'm not used to. VARVARA. Timid, nonsense! Glasha will be with us. KATERINA. Still one feels nervous, somehow! But perhaps I will. VARVARA. I wouldn't have asked you, only mamma wouldn't let me alone, and I must. KATERINA (_looking at her_). What for? VARVARA.(_laughing_). We'll tell our fortunes together there. KATERINA. You must be joking. VARVARA. To be sure, I am joking; did you think I meant it? [_Silence_. KATERINA. Where can Tihon be? VARVARA. Why, do you want him? KATERINA. No, I only wondered, he has to start so soon. VARVARA. He's sitting locked up with mamma. She's nagging away at him now. KATERINA. What for? VARVARA. For nothing at all, teaching him to mind what he's about. He'll be a fortnight away out of her sight! Only fancy! She has an uneasy inkling all the time that he'll enjoy himself when he's his own master. And so she's busy now laying all sorts of injunctions upon him, each more imperative than the last, and then she'll take him up to the holy picture and make him swear solemnly that he'll do everything exactly and precisely according to her bidding. KATERINA. And so even when he's free he'll be as good as bound. VARVARA. Bound! Oh, will he! As soon as he gets away, he'll start drinking, you may be sure. He says nothing now, but all the while he's only thinking how to get away as soon as possible.