ivanoff-第14章
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even sniffing。
SASHA。 Leave me in peace； and do not offend my ears with your
two…penny calculations。
LEBEDIEFF。 ＇Losing his temper＇ Bah！ You all； every one of you； do
all you can to make me cut my throat or kill somebody。 One of you
screeches and fusses all day and counts every penny； and the
other is so clever and humane and emancipated that she cannot
understand her own father！ I offend your ears； do I？ Don't you
realise that before I came here to offend your ears I was being
torn to pieces over there； ＇He points to the door＇ literally
drawn and quartered？ So you cannot understand？ You two have
addled my brain till I am utterly at my wits' end； indeed I am！
＇He goes toward the door； and stops＇ I don't like this business
at all； I don't like any thing about you
SASHA。 What is it； especially； that you don't like？
LEBEDIEFF。 Everything； everything！
SASHA。 What do you mean by everything？
LEBEDIEFF。 Let me explain exactly what I mean。 Everything
displeases me。 As for your marriage； I simply can't abide it。 ＇He
goes up to SASHA and speaks caressingly＇ Forgive me； little
Sasha； this marriage may be a wise one； it may be honest and not
misguided； nevertheless； there is something about the whole
affair that is not right； no； not right！ You are not marrying as
other girls do； you are young and fresh and pure as a drop of
water； and he is a widower； battered and worn。 Heaven help him。 I
don't understand him at all。 ＇He kisses his daughter＇ Forgive me
for saying so； Sasha； but I am sure there is something crooked
about this affair； it is making a great deal of talk。 It seems
people are saying that first Sarah died； and then suddenly
Ivanoff wanted to marry you。 ＇Quickly＇ But； no； I am like an old
woman； I am gossiping like a magpie。 You must not listen to me or
any one； only to your own heart。
SASHA。 Papa； I feel myself that there is something wrong about my
marriage。 Something wrong； yes； wrong！ Oh； if you only knew how
heavy my heart is； this is unbearable！ I am frightened and
ashamed to confess this； Papa darling； you must help me； for
heaven's sake。 Oh； can't you tell me what I should do？
LEBEDIEFF。 What is the matter； Sasha； what is it？
SASHA。 I am so frightened； more frightened than I have ever been
before。 ＇She glances around her＇ I cannot understand him now； and
I never shall。 He has not smiled or looked straight into my eyes
once since we have been engaged。 He is forever complaining and
apologising for something； hinting at some crime he is guilty of；
and trembling。 I am so tired！ There are even moments when I
thinkI thinkthat I do not love him as I should； and when he
comes to see us； or talks to me； I get so tired！ What does it
mean； dear father？ I am afraid。
LEBEDIEFF。 My darling； my only child； do as your old father
advises you； give him up！
SASHA。 ＇Frightened＇ Oh！ How can you say that？
LEBEDIEFF。 Yes； do it； little Sasha！ It will make a scandal； all
the tongues in the country will be wagging about it； but it is
better to live down a scandal than to ruin one's life。
SASHA。 Don't say that； father。 Oh； don't。 I refuse to listen！ I
must crush such gloomy thoughts。 He is good and unhappy and
misunderstood。 I shall love him and learn to understand him。 I
shall set him on his feet again。 I shall do my duty。 That is
settled。
LEBEDIEFF。 This is not your duty； but a delusion
SASHA。 We have said enough。 I have confessed things to you that I
have not dared to admit even to myself。 Don't speak about this to
any one。 Let us forget it。
LEBEDIEFF。 I am hopelessly puzzled； and either my mind is going
from old age or else you have all grown very clever； but I'll be
hanged if I understand this business at all。
Enter SHABELSKI。
SHABELSKI。 Confound you all and myself； too！ This is maddening！
LEBEDIEFF。 What do you want？
SHABELSKI Seriously； I must really do something horrid and
rascally； so that not only I but everybody else will be disgusted
by it。 I certainly shall find something to do； upon my word I
shall！ I have already told Borkin to announce that I am to be
married。 ＇He laughs＇ Everybody is a scoundrel and I must be one
too！
LEBEDIEFF。 I am tired of you； Matthew。 Look here； man you talk in
such a way that； excuse my saying so； you will soon find yourself
in a lunatic asylum！
SHABELSKI。 Could a lunatic asylum possibly be worse than this
house； or any othe r？ Kindly take me there at once。 Please do！
Everybody is wicked and futile and worthless and stupid； I am an
object of disgust to myself； I don't believe a word I say
LEBEDIEFF。 Let me give you a piece of advice； old man； fill your
mouth full of tow； light it； and blow at everybody。 Or； better
still； take your hat and go home。 This is a wedding； we all want
to enjoy ourselves and you are croaking like a raven。 Yes；
really。
SHABELSKI leans on the piano and begins to sob。
LEBEDIEFF。 Good gracious； Matthew； Count！ What is it； dear
Matthew； old friend？ Have I offended you？ There； forgive me； I
didn't mean to hurt you。 Come； drink some water。
SHABELSKI。 I don't want any water。 ＇Raises his head。＇
LEBEDIEFF。 What are you crying about？
SHABELSKI。 Nothing in particular； I was just crying。
LEBEDIEFF。 Matthew； tell me the truth； what is it？ What has
happened？
SHABELSKI。 I caught sight of that violoncello； andandI
remembered the Jewess。
LEBEDIEFF。 What an unfortunate moment you have chosen to remember
her。 Peace be with her！ But don't think of her now。
SHABELSKI。 We used to play duets together。 She was a beautiful； a
glorious woman。
SASHA sobs。
LEBEDIEFF。 What； are you crying too？ Stop； Sasha！ Dear me； they
are both howling now； and Iand I Do go away； the guests will
see you！
SHABELSKI。 Paul； when the sun is shining； it is gay even in a
cemetery。 One can be cheerful even in old age if it is lighted by
hope； but I have nothing to hope fornot a thing！
LEBEDIEFF。 Yes； it is rather sad for you。 You have no children；
no money； no occupation。 Well； but what is there to be done about
it？ ＇To SASHA＇ What is the matter with you； Sasha？
SHABELSKI。 Paul； give me some money。 I will repay you in the next
world。 I would go to Paris and see my wife's grave。 I have given
away a great deal of money in my life； half my fortune indeed；
and I have a right to ask for some now。 Besides； I am asking a
friend
LEBEDIEFF。 ＇Embarrassed＇ My dear boy； I haven't a penny。 All
right though。 That is to say； I can't promise anything； but you
understandvery well； very well。 ＇Aside＇ This is agony！
Enter MARTHA。
MARTHA。 Where is my partner？ Count； how dare you leave me alone？
You are horrid！ ＇She taps SHABELSKI on the arm with her fan＇
SHABELSKI。 ＇Impatiently＇ Leave me alone！ I can't abide you！
MARTHA。 ＇Frightened＇ How？ What？
SHABELSKI。 Go away！
MARTHA。 ＇Sinks into an arm…chair＇ Oh！ Oh！ Oh！ ＇She bursts into
tears。＇
Enter ZINAIDA crying。
ZINAIDA。 Some one has just arrived； it must be one of the ushers。
It is time for the ceremony to begin。
SASHA。 ＇Imploringly＇ Mother！
LEBEDIEFF。 Well； now you are all bawling。 What a quartette！ Come；
come； don't let us have any more of this dampness！ Matthew！
Martha！ If you go on like this； IIshall cry too。 ＇Bursts into
tears＇ Heavens！
ZINAIDA。 If you don't need your mother any more； if you are
determined not to obey her； I shall have to do as you want； and
you have my blessing。
Enter IVANOFF； dressed in a long coat； with gloves on。
LEBEDIEFF This is the finishing touch！ What do you want？
SHABELSKI。 Why are you here？
IVANOFF。 I beg your pardon； you must allow me to speak to Sasha
alone。
LEBEDIEFF。 The bridegroom must not come to see the bride before
the wedding。 It is time for you to go to the church。
IVANOFF。 Paul； I implore you。
LEBEDIEFF shrugs his shoulders。 LEBEDIEFF； ZINAIDA； SHABELSKI；
and MARTHA go out。
SASHA。 ＇Sternly＇ What do you want？
IVANOFF。 I am choking with anger； I cannot speak calmly。 Listen
to me； as I was dressing just now for the wedding； I looked in
the glass and saw how grey my temples were。 Sasha； this must not
be！ Let us end this senseless comedy before it is too late。 You
are young and pure； you have all your life before y
