ISLAYEV. Do, Mamma? Why, nothing.
ANNA SEMYONOVNA. Nothing?
ISLAYEV. Why, certainly, nothing.
ANNA SEMYONOVNA [getting up]. I must say, I'm surprised to hear it. Of course you are master in your own house and know better than I do what is for the best. But only think of the consequences. . . .
ISLAYEV. Really, Mamma, there's no need to worry yourself.
ANNA SEMYONOVNA. My dear, I'm a mother . . . you know best. [A pause.] I must own I came to see whether I could do anything to help.
ISLAYEV [earnestly]. No, as far as that goes, I must beg you, Mamma, not to trouble yourself. . . . Pray don't!
ANNA SEMYONOVNA. As you wish, Arkasha, as you wish. I won't say another word. I have warned you, I have done my duty, and now I won't open my lips, [A brief silence.]
ISLAYEV. Are you going anywhere to-day?
ANNA SEMYONOVNA. Only I must warn you; you are too trustful, my dear boy; you judge everybody by yourself! Believe me, true friends are only too rare nowadays!
ISLAYEV [with impatience]. Mamma. . . .
ANNA SEMYONOVNA. Oh, I'll say no more, I'll say no more! And what's the use, an old woman like me! I'm in my dotage, I suppose! But I was brought up on different principles, and have tried to instil them in you . . . there, there, go on with your work, I won't interrupt you. . . . I'm going. [Goes to door and stops.] Well, you know best. [Goes out.]
ISLAYEV [looking after her]. Queer that people who really love you have such a passion for poking their fingers into your wounds. And of course they're convinced it's doing you good ... that's what's so funny! I don't blame Mother, though; of course she means well, and how could she help giving advice? But that's no matter. . . . [Sitting down.] How am I to act? [After a moment's thought, gets up.] Oh! the more simply, the better! Diplomatic subtleties don't suit me. ... I should be the first to make a muddle of them. [Rings, MATVEY enters.] Is Mihail Alexandritch at home, do you know?
MATVEY. Yes, Sir. I saw his honour in the billiard-room just now.
ISLAYEV. Ah, well, ask him to come to me.
MATVEY. Yes, Sir. [Goes out.]
ISLAYEV [walking up and down]. I'm not used to these upheavals. ... I hope they won't happen often . . . strong as I am, I can't stand them. [Puts his hand on his heart.] Ough! . . . [RAKITIN, embarrassed, comes in from the outer room.]
RAKITIN. You sent for me?
ISLAYEV. Yes. . . . [A pause,] Michel, you know you owe me something?
RAKITIN. I owe you?
ISLAYEV. Why, yes. Have you forgotten your promise? About . . . Natasha's tears . . . and altogether . . . When my Mother and I came upon you, you remember--you told me you had a secret which you would explain.
RAKITIN. I said a secret?
ISLAYEV. You said so.
RAKITIN. But what secret could we have? We had had a talk.
ISLAYEV. What about? And why was she crying?
RAKITIN. You know, Arkady . . . there are moments in in the life of a woman . . . even the happiest. . .
ISLAYEV. Rakitin, stop, we can't go on like this. I can't bear to see you in such a position. . . . Your confusion distresses me more than it does yourself. [Takes his hand.] We are old friends--you've known me from a child; I don't know how to pretend and you have always been open with me. Let me put one question to you. ... I give you my word beforehand that I shall not doubt the sincerity of your answer. You love my wife, don't you? [RAKITIN looks at ISLAYEV.] You understand me, you love her as ... Well, that is you love her with the sort of love that . . . it's difficult to admit to her husband?
RAKITIN [after a pause, in a toneless voice]. Yes, I love your wife . . . with that sort of love.
ISLAYEV [also after a pause]. Michel, thank you for your frankness. You're an honourable man. But what's to be done now? Sit down, we'll think it over together. [RAKITIN sits down. ISLAYEV walks about the room.] I know Natasha; I know how to appreciate her. But I know how much I'm worth myself too. I'm not your equal. Michel. . . don't interrupt me, please--I'm not your equal. You're cleverer, better, more attractive, in fact. I'm an ordinary person. Natasha loves me--I think, but she has eyes, well, of course, she must find you attractive. And there's another thing I must tell you: I noticed your affection for each other long ago. . . . But I was always so sure of you both--and as long as nothing came to the surface . . . Ough! I don't know how to say things! [Breaks off.] But after the scene yesterday, after your second interview in the evening--what are we to do? And if only I had come upon you alone, but other people are mixed up in it; Mamma, and that sly fox, Shpigelsky. . . . Come, what do you say, Michel?
RAKITIN. You are perfectly right, Arkady.
ISLAYEV. That's not the point . . . what's to be done? I must tell you, Michel, that though I am a simple person--so much I do understand, that it's not the thing to spoil other people's lives--and that there are cases when it's wicked to insist on one's rights. That I've not picked out of books, Michel . . . it's my conscience tells me so. Leave others free. . . . Well, yes, let them be free. Only it wants some thinking over. It's too important.
RAKITIN [getting up]. But I have thought it over already.
ISLAYEV. How so?
RAKITIN. I must go. ... I'm going away.
ISLAYEV [after a pause]. You think so? . . . Right away from here altogether?
RAKITIN. Yes.
ISLAYEV [begins walking up and down again]. That is . . . that is a hard saying! But perhaps you are right. We shall miss you dreadfully. . . . God knows, perhaps it won't mend matters either. . . . But you can see more clearly, you know best. I expect you are right. You're a danger to me, Michel.... [With a mournful smile.] Yes ... you are. You know what I said just now . . . about freedom. . . . And yet perhaps I couldn't survive it! For me to be without Natasha. . . . [Waving his hand in dismissal of the idea.] And another tiling, Micheclass="underline" for some time past, and especially these last few days, I've noticed a great change in her. She's all the time in a state of intense agitation and I'm alarmed about it. I'm not mistaken, am I?
RAKITIN [bitterly]. Oh no! you're not mistaken!
ISLAYEV. Well, you see! So you are going away?
RAKITIN. Yes.
ISLAYEV. H'm! And how suddenly this has burst on us! If only you had not been so confused when my Mother and I came upon you. . . .
MATVEY [coming in]. The bailiff is here.
ISLAYEV. Ask him to wait! [MATVEY goes out.] But, Michel, you won't be away for long? That's nonsense.
RAKITIN. I don't know . . . really ... a good time, I expect.
ISLAYEV. But you don't take me for an Othello, do you? Upon my word, I don't believe there has been such a conversation between two friends since the world began! I can't part from you like this. . . .
RAKITIN [pressing his hand]. You'll let me know when I can come back. . . .
ISLAYEV. There's nobody who can fill your place here! Not Bolshintsov, anyway!
RAKITIN. There are others. . . .
ISLAYEV. Who? Krinitsyn? That conceited fool? Beliayev, of course, is a good-natured lad ... but you can't speak of him in the same breath.
RAKITIN [ironically]. Do you think so? You don't know him, Arkady. . . . Look at him more attentively. ... I advise you. . . . Do you hear? He's a very . . . very remarkable fellow!