The Complete Works of Count Tolstoy/Volume 18/The Power of Darkness/Act 2
DRAMATIS PERSONÆ OF ACT II.
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Peter.
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Nikíta.
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ACT II.
The scene represents a street and Peter's hut. On the left of the spectators is the hut in two parts, and the vestibule, with a porch in the middle; on the right are the gate and a corner of the yard. In the corner of the yard Anísya is beating hemp. Six months have passed since the first act.
SCENE I. Anísya alone.
Anísya (stops working, and listens). He is again growling. He must have climbed down from the oven.
Scene II. Anísya and Akulína (enter, with pails on a yoke).
Anísya. He is calling. Go and see what is the matter with him! Hear him howling!
Akulína. What about you?
Anísya. Go, I tell you! (Akulina goes into the hut.)
Scene III. Anísya alone.
Anísya. He is wearing me out: he will not tell me where the money is, and that is the end of it. The other day he was in the vestibule, so he must have hidden it there. Now I do not know myself where. He is evidently afraid to part from it. It must be somewhere in the house. If only I could find it. He did not have it with him yesterday. He has completely worn me out.
Scene IV. Anísya and Akulína (who comes out, tying her kerchief on her head).
Anísya. Where are you going?
Akulína. Where? He told me to call Aunt Márfa. "Go and call sister," says he. "I am dying," says he, "and I want to tell her something."
Anísya (aside). He is calling his sister. Oh, my wretched head! He, no doubt, wants to give it to her. What am I to do? Oh! (To Akulína.) Don't go! Where are you going?
Akulína. For aunty.
Anísya. Don't go, I say. I will go myself, and you take the washing to the river. Else you will not get done before evening.
Akulína. But he told me to go.
Anísya. Go where I tell you. I told you I would go myself for Márfa. Take the shirts down from the fence.
Akulína. The shirts? But I am afraid you won't go. He told me to.
Anísya. I told you I would. Where is Anyútka?
Akulína. Anyútka? She is watching the calves.
Anísya. Send her here: the calves won't run away. (Akulína takes up the washing and goes out.)
Scene V. Anísya alone.
Anísya. If I don't go, he will curse me. If I do, he will give his sister the money. All my labours will be lost. I don't know what to do. My head is bursting. (Continues to work.)
Scene VI. Anísya and Matréna (entering with a staff and a bundle, as though from a journey).
Matréna. God bless you, my dear!
Anísya (looking around, throws down her work and claps her hands from joy). I did not expect you, aunty. God has sent me a precious guest in proper time.
Matréna. What is up?
Anísya. I am all mixed up. It is just terrible!
Matréna. I understand he is still alive.
Anísya. Don't mention it. He is neither alive nor dead.
Matréna. Has he given up his money to any one?
Anísya. He has just sent for his sister Márfa. No doubt, he wants to talk to her about the money.
Matréna. Of course. But has he not in the meantime given it to anybody?
Anísya. No. I have been watching him like a hawk.
Matréna. Where is it?
Anísya. He will not tell, and I cannot find out. He is hiding it now in one place, now in another, and I can't do anything in Akulína's presence. She is a silly girl, but she keeps a sharp lookout. Oh, my head! I am all worn out.
Matréna. Oh, my dear, if he gives the money away to any one but you, you will have to weep all your life. They will kick you out of the farm with nothing. You have worried your life away with an unpleasant man, and now you will have to go a-begging as a widow.
Anísya. Don't say that, aunty! My heart is aching, and I do not know what to do, and there is nobody who can advise me. I told Nikíta about it, but he is afraid to take part in it. He told me yesterday that it was under the floor.
Matréna. Well, did you go to see?
Anísya. It is impossible,—he is there himself. I notice that he sometimes has it on his person, and sometimes hides it.
Matréna. Remember, woman: once you make a mistake, you will not correct it in a lifetime. (In a whisper.) Well, did you give him the strong tea?
Anísya. Oh! (Wants to answer, but, seeing her neighbour, grows silent.)
Scene VII. The same and Sponsor (who passes near the hut and listens to the voice calling in the house).
Sponsor (to Anísya). Friend! Anísya, oh, Anísya! Your man is calling!
Anísya. He is just coughing, though it sounds as though he were calling. He is in a pretty bad shape.
Sponsor (walking up to Matréna). Good day, mother! Whence does God bring you?
Matréna. From the farm, my dear. I have come to see my son and to bring him some shirts. One naturally thinks of one's own child.
Sponsor. Yes, that is so. (To Anísya.) Friend, I wanted to bleach the linen, but I thought it was too early yet. The people have not begun to bleach yet.
Anísya. What is the use in hurrying?
Matréna. Well, has he made his confession?
Anísya. Certainly. The priest was here yesterday.
Sponsor (to Matréna). I saw him yesterday, and I can't see what his soul is holding on to. He is so haggard. The other day, motherkin, he was almost dead, and they placed him under the images. They were already lamenting over him, and were getting ready to wash him.
Anísya. He came to and got up again. Now he is walking about.
Matréna. Well, are you going to give him the extreme unction?
People ask us to. If he is alive to-morrow, we will send for the priest.
Sponsor. It must be hard for you, Anísya! The proverb says not in vain: Not he who is ailing is sick, but he who watches over the ailment.
Anísya. If there were only an end to it!
Sponsor. Of course. It is no small matter to see him dying for a year. He has tied your hands.
Matréna. Bitter is a widow's lot. It is all right if she is young, but who will pity her in her old age? Old age is no joy. Look at me! I have walked but a short distance, and I am so tired that my feet are numb. Where is my son?
Anísya. He is ploughing. Come in. We shall have the samovár ready, and you will ease your heart with some tea.
Matréna (sits down). I am dreadfully tired, my dear ones. You must be sure and give him the extreme unction. People say it is good for the soul.
Anísya. Yes, we shall send for him to-morrow.
Matréna. It will be better so. We have had a wedding, my dear.
Sponsor. What, a wedding in spring?
Matréna. There is evidently good sense in the proverb: Night is too short for a poor man to marry. Semén Matvyéevich has married Marína.
Anísya. So she has found her happiness!
Sponsor. He is a widower, so she has married him for the children.
Matréna. There are four of them. What decent girl would marry him? So he has taken her. She is happy. We drank a glass,—you see it was not strong liquor,—because they poured it out for me.
Sponsor. I declare! Has he any means?
Matréna. So far they are getting on well.
Sponsor. That's so, who would want to marry a man with children? Take, for example, our Mikháylo. He is a fine man, motherkin—
A Peasant's Voice. Oh, Mávra, whither has the devil taken you? Go and drive in the cow. (Neighbour exit.)
Scene VIII. Anísya and Matréna.
Matréna (while the neighbour is leaving, she speaks in an even voice). She has been married sinfully, my dear; at least the silly woman will not be thinking about Nikíta. (Suddenly changing her voice to a whisper.) She is gone! Well, did you give him the tea?
Anísya Don't mention it. I wish he would die without it. He is not dying anyway, and I have taken a sin upon my soul. Oh, my head! Why did you give me those powders?
Matréna. What about the powders? My dear, those are sleeping powders, and why not give them? There is no harm in them.
Anísya. I am not speaking of the sleeping powders, but of the other, the whitish powders.
Matréna. But those, my dear, are medicinal powders.
Anísya (sighing). I know; but it makes me tremble. He has worn me out.
Matréna. Well, how many times have you given it to him?
Anísya. Twice.
Matréna. Did they have any effect?
Anísya. I put my lips to the tea,—it is slightly bitter. He drank it with the tea, and said: "I loathe the tea, too." And I said: "Everything tastes bitter to an ill man." But it made me shudder, aunty.
Matréna. Don't think of it! It is not good to think of it.
Anísya. I wish you had not given it to me, and had not tempted me to sin. It makes me shudder when I think of it. Why did you give them to me?
Matréna. Don't say that, my dear! Christ be with you! Don't put it on me! Woman, it will not do to take it off a guilty head and put it on an innocent one. When it comes to anything, I shall stand aside. I sha'n't know a thing: I will kiss the cross that I have not given any powders and that I have not seen any, and that I have heard of no powders. Woman, think for yourself! We were talking the other day about you and how you are suffering. Your stepdaughter is a fool, and your husband is rotten, a real curse. What will one not do with such a life?
Anísya. I sha'n't deny it. Such a life will only make me hang myself or kill him. What life is this?
Matréna. That's it. There is no time to lose. You must find the money, and give him the tea to drink.
Anísya. Oh, my wretched head! I do not know myself what to do, and I feel so much afraid: I wish he would die by himself. I do not wish to take the sin upon me.
Matréna (angrily). Why does he not reveal his money? Does he intend to take it with him, so that no one may get it? Is it proper? God forfend that such a lot of money should be lost for nothing. Is not this a sin? What is he doing? Is it not a shame to look at him?
Anísya. I do not know. He has worn me out completely.
Matréna. Why don't you know? The thing is clear enough. If you don't look out now, you will repent it all your life. He will give the money to his sister, and you will be left without any.
Anísya. Oh, oh! He has sent for her, and I have to go and fetch her!
Matréna. Wait awhile! First have the samovár ready. We will fill him with the tea, and then we will look him all over,—maybe we shall find the money.
Anísya. Oh, oh! I am afraid something might happen.
Matréna. What will happen? What are you wasting your time for? You are having your eyes all the time on the money, but it does not get into your hands. Go and do as I tell you!
Anísya. So I will have the samovár made.
Matréna. Go, my dear, and do things so as not to have cause for regret later. That's it! (Anísya walks away; Matréna calls after her.) By the way, don't tell Nikíta about it. He is silly about such things! God forfend that he should find out about the powders. God knows what he will do if he hears of it. He is compassionate: he could not kill a chicken even. Don't tell him! He will not consider it rightly. (Stops in terror; Peter appears on the threshold.)
Scene IX. The same and Peter (holding on to the wall, crawls out on the porch and calls in a weak voice).
Peter. Will you ever hear me? Oh, oh! Anísya, who is here? (Falls down on the bench.)
Anísya (coming out from around the corner). What did you come out for? Why did you not stay where you were?
Peter. Has the girl gone for Márfa? 'Tis hard—Oh, if death would only come!
Anísya. She is busy: I sent her to the river. Give me a chance, and I will go there myself.
Peter. Send Anyútka. Where is she? Oh, 'tis hard! Oh, my death!
Anísya. I have sent for her.
Peter. Oh, where is she?
Anísya Where is she? The paralysis take her!
Peter. Oh, I have no strength. It burns me within. I feel as though they were turning an auger within me. Why did you abandon me like a dog? There is nobody to give me a drink. Oh, send Anyútka to me!
Anísya. Here she is. Anyútka, go to father!
Scene X. The same and Anyútka (running in. Anísya walks around the corner).
Peter. Go, oh, to Aunt Márfa! Tell her, father wants her to come: he needs her.
ANYÚTKA. Well?
Peter. Wait. Tell her I need her at once. Tell her I am dying. Oh, oh!
Anyútka. I will take my kerchief and will go there at once. (Exit running.)
Scene XI. Peter, Anísya, and Matréna.
Matréna (winking). Well, woman, remember your business! Go into the hut and hunt everywhere! Hunt, as a dog hunts for fleas! Turn everything upside down, and I will go through him here at once.
Anísya (to Matréna). I have more courage when you are around. (Walks up to the porch. To Peter.) Don't you want the samovár? Aunt Matréna has come to see her son,—so you drink tea with her.
Peter. All right, have it made! (Anisya goes into the vestibule.)
Scene XII. Peter and Matréna (walking over to the porch).
Peter. Good day!
Matréna. Good day, benefactor! Good day, my dear! You are evidently sick. My old man is very sorry for you. He told me to go and find out how you were. He sent his regards. (Bows again.)
Peter. I am dying.
Matréna. As I look at you, Ignátych, I see that suffering is not abroad in the woods, but keeping close to people. You are thin, my dear, very thin, as I see. Sickness does not make one look better, that is evident.
Peter. My death has come.
Matréna. Well, Peter Ignátych, that is God's will. You have confessed, and you will receive the extreme unction, if God grants it. You have a clever wife, thank God, and you will be buried in honour, and mass will be said for you. And my son will in the meantime look after the house as much as he can.
Peter. There is no one to whom I can give an order! The woman is not reliable, and busies herself with foolish things. I know all— I know— The girl is silly and young. I have fixed all this house, but there is no one to take care of it. It is a pity. (Groans.)
Matréna. If there is anything about money matters, you can order others—
Peter (to Anísya in the vestibule). Has Anyútka gone?
Matréna (aside). I declare, he has not forgotten it.
Anísya (in the vestibule). She has gone long ago. Go into the house! I will take you in.
Peter. Let me sit here for the last time! The air is close within. It is hard for me— Oh, I am all burning up inside— If death would only come!
Matréna. If God does not take away the soul, it will not fly away by itself. God has power over life and death, Peter Ignátych. You can't foresee death. There are cases when a man gets up again. There was once a man in our village, who was almost dead—
Peter. No. I feel that I am going to die to-day. (Leans back and closes his eyes.)
Scene XIII. The same and Anísya.
Anísya (enter). Well, will you go in, or not? I am tired waiting for you. Peter, oh, Peter!
Matréna (walks away and beckons with her finger to Anisya). Well?
Anísya (walks down from the porch, to Matréna). Nothing.
Matréna. Have you looked everywhere? Under the floor?
Anísya. Nothing there, either. Maybe in the loft. He was climbing there yesterday.
Matréna. Look for it, look for it more carefully than ever, as though licking it clean with your tongue. I see he will die to-day anyway: his nails are blue, and his face is ashen gray. Is the samovár ready?
Anísya. It will boil in a minute.
Nikíta (to his mother). Good day, mother! Are you all well at home?
Matréna. Thank God we are alive and have something to eat.
Nikíta. Well, how is the master?
Matréna. Softly,—he is sitting there. (Points to the porch.)
Nikíta. Well, let him sit! What do I care?
Peter (opening his eyes). Nikíta, oh, Nikíta, come here! (Nikíta walks over to him. Anísya whispers to Matréna.)
Peter. Why did you come back so soon?
Nikíta. I have done the ploughing.
Peter. Have you ploughed up the strip back of the bridge?
Nikíta. It is too far to go there.
Peter. Too far? It is farther from the house. You will have to go there especially, so you might have done it at once. (Anísya, standing a distance off, is listening.)
Matréna (coming up). Oh, son, why don't you try to do better for your master? Your master is ill, and is depending on you; you ought to exert yourself for him as for a father. Why don't you serve him as I told you to?
Peter. So you had better—oh!—dig up the potatoes, and the women—oh!—will pick them over.
Anísya (aside). So he wants me to go, too. He wants to send us all away, because he has the money with him. He wants to hide it somewhere.
Peter. Because—oh!—it will soon be time to set them out, and they will be rotten. Oh, I have no more strength. (Rises.)
Matréna (runs up on the porch and supports Peter). Shall I take you to the house?
Peter. Yes. (Stops.) Nikíta!
Nikíta (angrily). What else is it?
Peter. I won't see you again—I shall die to-day— Forgive me, for Christ's sake, forgive me if I have sinned before you— I have sinned in deeds and words— Yes, I have. Forgive me.
Nikíta. There is nothing to forgive. I am sinful myself.
Matréna. O son, show more feeling!
Peter. Forgive me, for Christ's sake— (Weeps.)
Nikíta (snuffling). God will forgive you, Uncle Peter. I have not been offended by you. I have not been wronged by you. You forgive me, for I may be more sinful than you. (Weeps. Peter goes away moaning. Matréna supports him.)
Scene XV. Nikíta and Anísya.
Anísya. Oh, my wretched head! There is something behind his words. (Walks over to Nikita.) You said that the money was under the floor, but I did not find it there.
Nikíta (weeping, does not answer). I have never been wronged by him. See what I have done to him!
Anísya. Stop that. Where is the money?
Nikíta (angrily). Who knows? Look for it yourself!
Anísya. You are dreadfully compassionate.
Nikíta. I am sorry for him. I am so sorry. How he wept! Oh!
Anísya. I declare, you are soft-hearted! A good person you have found to pity! He has been scolding you and even now he ordered me to drive you away from the farm. You had better pity me.
Nikíta. What am I to pity you for?
Anísya. He will hide the money, and then die.
Nikíta. No, he won't.
Anísya. O Nikíta! He has sent for his sister,—he wants to give it to her. It will be our misfortune. How shall we live if he gives the money away? They will send me away from the farm. You ought to help me in this. Did you not tell me that he climbed into the loft yesterday?
Nikíta. I saw him coming out of it; but I do not know where he put the money.
Anísya. Oh, my head! I will go and look there. (Nikita walks away.)
Matréna. Don't go anywhere! He has the money on his person. He has it on his baptismal cross.
Anísya. Oh, my wretched head!
Matréna. If you miss the opportunity now, you might as well look for it under the eagle's right wing. His sister will come, and then good-bye.
Anísya. If she comes, he will give it to her. What am I to do? Oh, my head!
Matréna. What are you to do? Look here: the samovár is boiling now, so you go and fix the tea and pour in (in a whisper) the whole lot of it. He will drink a cup, and then you take it away. Don't be afraid! He will not tell.
Anísya. It makes me tremble!
Matréna. Don't discuss now. Do it right away, while I am on the lookout for his sister. Don't make a blunder! Take the money and bring it here, and Nikíta will hide it!
Anísya. Oh, my head! How am I to begin it?
Matréna. I tell you not to discuss now. Do as I tell you, Nikíta!
Nikíta. What?
Matréna. You stay here! Sit down on the mound for awhile,—you will be needed.
Nikíta (waving his hand). What these women will think out! They will positively ruin me! Go to! I will go and dig out the potatoes.
Matréna (takes his hand). I tell you to stay!
Scene XVII. The same and Anyútka (enter).
Anísya. Well?
Anyútka. She was in her daughter's garden. She will be here at once.
Anísya. What shall we do if she comes?
Matréna (to Anísya). You will have plenty of time. Do as I tell you!
Anísya. I do not know what. I know nothing,—everything is mixed in my head. Anyútka! Go, darling, to the calves! They may have run away. Oh, I won't have the courage.
Matréna. Go! The samovár is running over by this time.
Anísya. Oh, my wretched head! (Exit.)
Scene XVIII. Matréna and Nikíta.
Matréna (goes up to her son). Yes, my son! (Sits down on the mound, near him.) Your affair, too, has to be considered. It must not be left out.
Nikíta. What affair?
Matréna. Namely, how you are to get on in the world.
Nikíta. How to get on in the world? I shall live just as other people do.
Matréna. The old man is going to die to-day.
Nikíta. If he does, the kingdom of heaven be his. What is that to me?
Matréna (looking all the time at the porch while speaking). Oh, my son! A living person thinks of living things. My dear, it takes much thinking here. I have been in all kinds of places, attending to your affairs; I have worn out my legs running errands for you. Don't forget me for it!
Nikíta. What is it you attended to?
Matréna. To your affair, to your fate. If I did not attend to it in time, nothing would come of it. You know Iván Moséich? I go to see him now and then. The other day I attended to some business of his; I stayed there awhile and chatted with him. "Explain to me, Iván Moséich," says I, "a certain matter. For example," says I, "there is a widower, and he has taken unto himself a second wife, and, let us say, he has children by both wives. Suppose now," says I, "the man dies; can another man,” says I, "step in and marry the widow? Can he," says I, "marry off the daughters and himself remain on the farm?" "He can," says he, "only," says he, "it will take much trouble and money," says he; "it can be done,—but without money," says he, "there is no use trying."
Nikíta (laughing). Of course, if you give them money. Everybody wants money.
Matréna. Well, my dear. I told him the whole affair. "In the first place," says he, "your son must inscribe himself in that village; for this you need money to treat the old men to drinks. Then they will put down their signatures. Everything," says he, "has to be done cautiously." Look here! (Takes out a paper from her kerchief.) He has written up a paper. Read it, for you know how to read. (Nikita reads it.)
Nikíta. This paper is an official document. There is no great wisdom in it.
Matréna. Listen to what Iván Moséich has told me. "Above everything else," says he, "let him not miss the money. If she does not get the money," says he, "they will not let her get a son-in-law. Money," says he, "is the chief thing." So look out! My son, the business will soon begin.
Nikíta. What do I care? It is her money, so let her trouble herself about it.
Matréna. My son, you do not judge rightly. Can a woman consider rightly? Suppose even she takes the money, how is she to dispose of it? That is not a woman's business, but a man's. You can hide it, and all such things. You have more sense in matters like this.
Nikíta. The reasoning of you women is not correct!
Matréna. Why not correct? You only take the money. Then the woman will be in your hands. If, by any chance, she should get saucy, or something of that kind, you can pull in the reins.
Nikíta. Go to! I will go away.
Scene XIX. Nikíta, Matréna, and Anísya (pale. Running toward Matréna from the hut around the corner).
Anísya. It was on his person. Here it is. (Shows it under her apron.)
Matréna. Give it to Nikíta! He will hide it. Nikíta, take it and put it away somewhere!
Nikíta. All right! Let me have it!
Anísya. Oh, my head! I will put it away myself! (Walks over toward the gate.)
Matréna (seizing her hand). Where are you going? They will find it out, and his sister is coming. Give it to him he knows what to do with it. Senseless woman!
Anísya. (stops in indecision). Oh, my head!
Nikíta. Well, let me have it! I will put it away safely.
Anísya. Where will you put it?
Nikíta. Are you afraid? (Laughs.)
Scene XX. The same and Akulína (coming with the washing).
Anísya. Oh, my wretched head! (Gives up the money.) Nikíta, look out!
Nikíta. What are you afraid of? I will put it away so that I can't find it myself. (Exit.)
Scene XXI. Matréna, Anísya, and Akulína.
Anísya (standing in fright). Oh, oh, when he—
Matréna. Well, is he dead?
Anísya. Yes, I think he is. He did not stir when I took it from him.
Matréna. Go into the hut! Akulína is coming.
Anísya. I have sinned, and he with the money—
Matréna. That will do. Go into the house! Márfa is coming.
Anísya. I have trusted him. What will happen now? (Exit.)
Scene XXII. Márfa, Akulína, and Matréna.
Márfa (coming from one side, and Akulína from the other. To Akulína). I should have come long ago, but I was at my daughter's. Well, how is the old man? Is he going to die?
Akulína (taking off the washing). I don't know. I was at the river.
Márfa (pointing to Matréna). Who is that?
Matréna. I am from Zúev. I am Nikíta's mother, from Zúev, my friend. Good day! Your brother has been asking for you. He came out himself. "Send for my sister," says he, "because," says he— Oh! I am afraid he may be dead by this time.
Scene XXIII. The same and Anísya (running out of the house with a cry. Takes hold of a post and moans).
Anísya. Oh, oh! To whom has he left me? Oh, oh, oh, to whom has he abandoned me? Oh, oh, oh, a wretched widow—for ever and ever—he has closed his clear eyes—
A voice from the throng. Call for old women to fix things.
Matréna (rolling up her sleeves). Is there any water in the iron pot? I think the samovár has not been emptied yet. I will work myself.
Curtain.