Part 53 (1/2)

When I hear any one at the door my heart almost stops. Every minute seems a year. Afonya torments me too. I wonder where he went. Isn't he spying on her? Of course I can find ten replies to every word he says; yet he may rouse suspicion. Ah, some one is coming! Is it possible that it's Lev!

Heaven forbid! I do believe I'll die. [AFoNYA _comes in, and, groaning, lies down on the stove-couch_] Where have you been?

AFoNYA. Never you mind.

LUKeRYA. Speak, it won't hurt your voice.

AFoNYA. I don't want to talk to you.

LUKeRYA. [_Caressingly_] Don't you feel well, Afonya?

AFoNYA. Oh, Heavens! don't touch me, don't touch! You can't fool me.

LUKeRYA. I don't in the least wish to fool you.

AFoNYA. You fooled brother, but you can't fool me. No, no! LUKeRYA. I don't understand a bit what you're talking about.

AFoNYA. Oh, I'm exhausted! Go away: out of my sight. Don't torment me.

LUKeRYA. You feel worse because you don't appreciate kindness.

AFoNYA. I don't need it! I don't need anything.

LUKeRYA. Well, then just lie on your couch. Do you think I want anything from you? I only spoke out of sympathy. [_Silence_] What a senseless girl; how senseless! I'm all a-tremble.

KRASNoV comes in.

SCENE II

The same and KRASNoV

KRASNoV. Well, here I am. What a trick I've played! The joke's on Tatyana Danilovna. ”Expect me in an hour,” I said, and here I am in half an hour, so she'd be surprised. I was invited to tea, but I didn't stay. ”Do you think I want tea,” I said, ”when I have a young wife at home who's waiting for me!” But where is she?

LUKeRYA. I don't know. Somewhere around. Isn't she in the garden?

KRASNoV. Send her in right away, I want to give her a present for her kindness to-day.

LUKeRYA. Right away, right away. [_Goes out_]

KRASNoV. [_Paces up and dawn in silence; then speaks to himself_]

Fifty-seven rubles, six and three, nine to Peter Ananyev. [_Pause_] Has she disappeared? [_Paces up and down in silence_] Afonya, do you know where my wife went?

AFoNYA. Don't know. Oh, I feel sick.

KRASNoV. What's she dallying around for? [_Goes to the door_] Tatyana Danilovna! Lukerya Danilovna! They don't even answer. What does that mean now? Afanasy, where's my wife?

AFoNYA. Are you lonesome without her? She'll come, don't be afraid. No matter where she's strolling, she'll come home.