KLESHTCH [_trembling with excitement_] They say: there's truth! You,
old man, try to console every one . . . I tell you--I hate every one!
And there's your truth--God curse it--understand? I tell you--God
curse it!
[_Rushes away round the corner, turning as he goes._]
LUKA. Ah--how excited he got! Where did he run off to?
NATASHA. He's off his head . . .
BUBNOFF. God--didn't he say a whole lot, though? As if he was playing
drama--he gets those fits often . . . he isn't used to life yet . . .
PEPEL [_comes slowly round the corner_] Peace on all this honest
gathering! Well, Luka, you wily old fellow--still telling them
stories?
LUKA. You should have heard how that fellow carried on!
PEPEL. Kleshtch--wasn't it? What's wrong with him? He was running like
one possessed!
LUKA. You'd do the same if your own heart were breaking!
PEPEL [_sitting down_] I don't like him . . . he's got such a nasty,
bad temper--and so proud! [_Imitating Kleshtch_] "I'm a workman!" And
he thinks everyone's beneath him. Go on working if you feel like
it--nothing to be so damned haughty about! If work is the standard--a
horse can give us points--pulls like hell and says nothing!
Natasha--are your folks at home?
NATASHA. They went to the cemetery--then to night service . . .
PEPEL. So that's why you're free for once--quite a novelty!
LUKA [_to Bubnoff, thoughtfully_] There--you say--truth! Truth doesn't
always heal a wounded soul. For instance, I knew of a man who believed
in a land of righteousness . . .
BUBNOFF. In what?
LUKA. In a land of righteousness. He said: "Somewhere on this earth
there must be a righteous land--and wonderful people live there--good
people! They respect each other, help each other, and everything is
peaceful and good!" And so that man--who was always searching for this
land of righteousness--he was poor and lived miserably--and when
things got to be so bad with him that it seemed there was nothing else
for him to do except lie down and die--even then he never lost
heart--but he'd just smile and say: "Never mind! I can stand it! A
little while longer--and I'll have done with this life--and I'll go in
search of the righteous land!"--it was his one happiness--the thought
of that land . . .
PEPEL. Well? Did he go there?
BUBNOFF. Where? Ho-ho!
LUKA. And then to this place--in Siberia, by the way--there came a
convict--a learned man with books and maps--yes, a learned man who
knew all sorts of things--and the other man said to him: "Do me a
favor--show me where is the land of righteousness and how I can get
there." At once the learned man opened his books, spread out his maps,
and looked and looked and he said--no--he couldn't find this land
anywhere . . . everything was correct--all the lands on earth were
marked--but not this land of righteousness . . .
PEPEL [_in a low voice_] Well? Wasn't there a trace of it?
[_Bubnoff roars with laughter._]
NATASHA. Wait . . . well, little father?
LUKA. The man wouldn't believe it. . . . "It must exist," he said,
"look carefully. Otherwise," he says, "your books and maps are of no
use if there's no land of righteousness." The learned man was
offended. "My plans," he said, "are correct. But there exists no land
of righteousness anywhere." Well, then the other man got angry. He'd
lived and lived and suffered and suffered, and had believed all the
time in the existence of this land--and now, according to the plans,
it didn't exist at all. He felt robbed! And he said to the learned
man: "Ah--you scum of the earth! You're not a learned man at all--but
just a damned cheat!"--and he gave him a good wallop in the eye--then
another one . . . [_After a moment's silence_] And then he went home
and hanged himself!
[_All are silent. Luka, smiling, looks at Pepel and Natasha._]
PEPEL [_low-voiced_] To hell with this story--it isn't very cheerful
. . .
NATASHA. He couldn't stand the disappointment . . .
BUBNOFF [_sullen_] Ah--it's nothing but a fairy-tale . . .
PEPEL. Well--there is the righteous land for you--doesn't exist, it
seems . . .
NATASHA. I'm sorry for that man . . .
BUBNOFF. All a story--ho-ho!--land of righteousness--what an idea!
[_Exit through window_]
LUKA [_pointing to window_] He's laughing! [_Pause_] Well, children,
God be with you! I'll leave you soon . . .
PEPEL. Where are you going to?
LUKA. To the Ukraine--I heard they discovered a new religion there--I
want to see--yes! People are always seeking--they always want
something better--God grant them patience!
PEPEL. You think they'll find it?
LUKA. The people? They will find it! He who seeks, will find! He who
desires strongly, will find!
NATASHA. If only they could find something better--invent something
better . . .
LUKA. They're trying to! But we must help them girl--we must respect
them . . .
NATASHA. How can I help them? I am helpless myself!
PEPEL [_determined_] Again--listen--I'll speak to you again,
Natasha--here--before him--he knows everything . . . run away with me?
NATASHA. Where? From one prison to another?
PEPEL. I told you--I'm through with being a thief, so help me God!
I'll quit! If I say so, I'll do it! I can read and write--I'll
work--He's been telling me to go to Siberia on my own hook--let's go
there together, what do you say? Do you think I'm not disgusted with
my life? Oh--Natasha--I know . . . I see . . . I console myself with
the thought that there are lots of people who are honored and
respected--and who are bigger thieves than I! But what good is that to
me? It isn't that I repent . . . I've no conscience . . . but I do
feel one thing: One must live differently. One must live a better life
. . . one must be able to respect one's own self . . .
LUKA. That's right, friend! May God help you! It's true! A man must
respect himself!
PEPEL. I've been a thief from childhood on. Everybody always called me
"Vaska--the thief--the son of a thief!" Oh--very well then--I am a
thief-- . . . just imagine--now, perhaps, I'm a thief out of
spite--perhaps I'm a thief because no one ever called me anything
different. . . . Well, Natasha--?
NATASHA [_sadly_] Somehow I don't believe in words--and I'm restless
to-day--my heart is heavy . . . as if I were expecting something . . .
it's a pity, Vassily, that you talked to me to-day . . .
PEPEL. When should I? It isn't the first time I speak to you . . .
NATASHA. And why should I go with you? I don't love you so very
much--sometimes I like you--and other times the mere sight of you
makes me sick . . . it seems--no--I don't really love you . . . when
one really loves, one sees no fault. . . . But I do see . . .
PEPEL. Never mind--you'll love me after a while! I'll make you care
for me . . . if you'll just say yes! For over a year I've watched you
. . . you're a decent girl . . . you're kind--you're reliable--I'm
very much in love with you . . .
[_Vassilisa, in her best dress, appears at window and listens._]
NATASHA. Yes--you love me--but how about my sister . . . ?
PEPEL [_confused_] Well, what of her? There are plenty like her . . .
LUKA. You'll be all right, girl! If there's no bread, you have to eat
weeds . . .
PEPEL [_gloomily_] Please--feel a little sorry for me! My life isn't
all roses--it's a hell of a life . . . little happiness in it . . . I
feel as if a swamp were sucking me under . . . and whatever I try to
catch and hold on to, is rotten . . . it breaks . . . Your
sister--oh--I thought she was different . . . if she weren't so greedy
after money . . . I'd have done anything for her sake, if she were
only all mine . . . but she must have someone else . . . and she has
to have money--and freedom . . . because she doesn't like the straight
and narrow . . . she can't help me. But you're like a young fir-tree
. . . you bend, but you don't break . . .
LUKA. Yes--go with him, girl, go! He's a good lad--he's all right!
Only tell him every now and then that he's a good lad so that he won't
forget it--and he'll believe you. Just you keep on telling him "Vasya,
you're a good man--don't you forget it!" Just think, dear, where else
could you go except with him? Your sister is a savage beast . . . and
as for her husband, there's little to say of him? He's rotten beyond
words . . . and all this life here, where will it get you? But this
lad is strong . . .
NATASHA. Nowhere to go--I know--I thought of it. The only thing
is--I've no faith in anybody--and there's no place for me to turn
to . . .
PEPEL. Yes, there is! But I won't let you go that way--I'd rather cut
your throat!
NATASHA [_smiling_] There--I'm not his wife yet--and he talks already
of killing me!
PEPEL [_puts his arms around her_] Come, Natasha! Say yes!
NATASHA [_holding him close_] But I'll tell you one thing, Vassily--I
swear it before God . . . the first time you strike me or hurt me any
other way, I'll have no pity on myself . . . I'll either hang myself
. . . or . . .
PEPEL. May my hand wither if ever I touch you!
LUKA. Don't doubt him, dear! He needs you more than you need him!
VASSILISA [_from the window_] So now they're engaged! Love and advice!
NATASHA. They've come back--oh, God--they saw--oh, Vassily . . .
PEPEL. Why are you frightened? Nobody'll dare touch you now!
VASSILISA. Don't be afraid, Natalia! He won't beat you . . . he don't
know how to love or how to beat . . . I know!
LUKA [_in a low voice_] Rotten old hag--like a snake in the grass
. . .
VASSILISA. He dares only with the word!
KOSTILYOFF [_enters_] Natashka! What are you doing here, you parasite?
Gossiping? Kicking about your family? And the samovar not ready? And
the table not cleared?
NATASHA [_going out_] I thought you were going to church . . . ?
KOSTILYOFF. None of your business what we intended doing! Mind your
own affairs--and do what you're told!
PEPEL. Shut up, you! She's no longer your servant! Don't go,
Natalia--don't do a thing!
NATASHA. Stop ordering me about--you're commencing too soon!
[_Leaves_]
PEPEL [_to Kostilyoff_] That's enough. You've used her long
enough--now she's mine!
KOSTILYOFF. Yours? When did you buy her--and for how much?
[_Vassilisa roars with laughter._]
LUKA. Go away, Vasya!
PEPEL. Don't laugh, you fools--or first thing you know I'll make you
cry!
VASSILISA. Oh, how terrible! Oh--how you frighten me!
LUKA. Vassily--go away! Don't you see--she's goading you on . . .
ridiculing you, don't you understand . . . ?
PEPEL. Yes . . . You lie, lie! You won't get what you want!
VASSILISA. Nor will I get what I don't want, Vasya!