PEPEL. Oh--you've come--?
VASSILISA [_crossing to Anna_] Is she alive yet?
LUKA. Don't disturb her!
VASSILISA. What are you loafing around here for?
LUKA. I'll go--if you want me to . . .
VASSILISA [_turning towards Pepel's room_] Vassily! I've some business
with you . . .
[_Luka goes to hallway door, opens it, and shuts it loudly, then
warily climbs into a bunk, and from there to the top of the stove._]
VASSILISA [_calling from Pepel's room_] Vaska--come here!
PEPEL. I won't come--I don't want to . . .
VASSILISA. Why? What are you angry about?
PEPEL. I'm sick of the whole thing . . .
VASSILISA. Sick of me, too?
PEPEL. Yes! Of you, too!
[_Vassilisa draws her shawl about her, pressing her hands over her
breast. Crosses to Anna, looks carefully through the bed curtains, and
returns to Pepel._]
Well--out with it!
VASSILISA. What do you want me to say? I can't force you to be loving,
and I'm not the sort to beg for kindness. Thank you for telling me the
truth.
PEPEL. What truth?
VASSILISA. That you're sick of me--or isn't it the truth? [_Pepel
looks at her silently. She turns to him_] What are you staring at?
Don't you recognize me?
PEPEL [_sighing_] You're beautiful, Vassilisa! [_She puts her arm
about his neck, but he shakes it off_] But I never gave my heart to
you. . . . I've lived with you and all that--But I never really liked
you . . .
VASSILISA [_quietly_] That so? Well--?
PEPEL. What is there to talk, about? Nothing. Go away from me!
VASSILISA. Taken a fancy to some one else?
PEPEL. None of your business! Suppose I have--I wouldn't ask you to be
my match-maker!
VASSILISA [_significantly_] That's too bad . . . perhaps I might
arrange a match . . .
PEPEL [_suspiciously_] Who with?
VASSILISA. You know--why do you pretend? Vassily--let me be frank.
[_With lower voice_] I won't deny it--you've offended me . . . it was
like a bolt from the blue . . . you said you loved me--and then all of
a sudden . . .
PEPEL. It wasn't sudden at all. It's been a long time since I . . .
woman, you've no soul! A woman must have a soul . . . we men are
beasts--we must be taught--and you, what have you taught me--?
VASSILISA. Never mind the past! I know--no man owns his own heart--you
don't love me any longer . . . well and good, it can't be helped!
PEPEL. So that's over. We part peaceably, without a row--as it should
be!
VASSILISA. Just a moment! All the same, when I lived with you, I hoped
you'd help me out of this swamp--I thought you'd free me from my
husband and my uncle--from all this life--and perhaps, Vassya, it
wasn't you whom I loved--but my hope--do you understand? I waited for
you to drag me out of this mire . . .
PEPEL. You aren't a nail--and I'm not a pair of pincers! I thought you
had brains--you are so clever--so crafty . . .
VASSILISA [_leaning closely towards him_] Vassa--let's help each
other!
PEPEL. How?
VASSILISA [_low and forcibly_] My sister--I know you've fallen for
her. . . .
PEPEL. And that's why you beat her up, like the beast you are! Look
out, Vassilisa! Don't you touch her!
VASSILISA. Wait. Don't get excited. We can do everything quietly and
pleasantly. You want to marry her. I'll give you money . . . three
hundred rubles--even more than that . . .
PEPEL [_moving away from her_] Stop! What do you mean?
VASSILISA. Rid me of my husband! Take that noose from around my
neck . . .
PEPEL [_whistling softly_] So that's the way the land lies! You
certainly planned it cleverly . . . in other words, the grave for the
husband, the gallows for the lover, and as for yourself . . .
VASSILISA. Vassya! Why the gallows? It doesn't have to be
yourself--but one of your pals! And supposing it were yourself--who'd
know? Natalia--just think--and you'll have money--you go away
somewhere . . . you free me forever--and it'll be very good for my
sister to be away from me--the sight of her enrages me. . . . I get
furious with her on account of you, and I can't control myself. I
tortured the girl--I beat her up--beat her up so that I myself cried
with pity for her--but I'll beat her--and I'll go on beating her!
PEPEL. Beast! Bragging about your beastliness?
VASSILISA. I'm not bragging--I speak the truth. Think now, Vassa.
You've been to prison twice because of my husband--through his greed.
He clings to me like a bed-bug--he's been sucking the life out of me
for the last four years--and what sort of a husband is he to me? He's
forever abusing Natasha--calls her a beggar--he's just poison, plain
poison, to every one . . .
PEPEL. You spin your yarn cleverly . . .
VASSILISA. Everything I say is true. Only a fool could be as blind as
you. . . .
[_Kostilyoff enters stealthily and comes forward noisily._]
PEPEL [_to Vassilisa_] Oh--go away!
VASSILISA. Think it over! [_Sees her husband_] What? You? Following
me?
[_Pepel leaps up and stares at Kostilyoff savagely._]
KOSTILYOFF. It's I, I! So the two of you were here alone--you
were--ah--conversing? [_Suddenly stamps his feet and screams_]
Vassilisa--you bitch! You beggar! You damned hag! [_Frightened by his
own screams which are met by silence and indifference on the part of
the others_] Forgive me, O Lord . . . Vassilisa--again you've led me
into the path of sin. . . . I've been looking for you everywhere. It's
time to go to bed. You forgot to fill the lamps--oh, you . . . beggar!
Swine! [_Shakes his trembling fist at her, while Vassilisa slowly goes
to door, glancing at Pepel over her shoulder_]