Without a dowry / Бесприданница. Книга для чтения на английском языке

Robinson (lifting his hat).

Long live merriment!

Long live delight![3 - From “The Tomb of Askold” (Askol'dova mogila), opera by A. N. Verstovsky, libretto by M. N. Zagoskin.]

Act two

A room in the home of Mme Ogudalov. Two doors: an entrance door in the background, the other to the left of the actors. On the right is a window. The furniture is presentable. A piano with a guitar lying on it. Mme Ogudalov is alone. She is walking toward the door at the left with a small box in her hands.

Mme Ogudalov. Larisa, Larisa! (Larisa's voice off stage: "I'm getting dressed, Mama.”) Just see what a gift Vasya’s brought you! (Larisa off stage: "I'll look later.”) What things! They must be worth five hundred rubles. He told me, “Put them in her room tomorrow morning and don’t say who they’re from.” But he knows, the scamp, that I won’t be able to control myself, that I’ll tell. I asked him to stay awhile, but he wouldn’t stay. He’s going around with some foreigner, he’s showing him the town. But Vasya’s such a joker you can’t tell whether he’s thought up something or whether it’s the real thing. “What I’ve got to do,” he says, “is show this foreigner all the tavern institutions worthy of note.” He wanted to drag that foreigner along to visit us. (Looking out the window.) There comes Moky Parmenych! Don’t come out, it’s better for me to talk with him alone. (Knurov enters.)

Knurov (in the doorway). You’re alone?

Mme Ogudalov. Alone, Moky Parmenych.

Knurov (enters). Very good.

Mme Ogudalov. To what can I ascribe this good fortune! I’m grateful, Moky Parmenych, so very grateful that you’ve honored us with your visit. I’m so glad I’ve even lost my bearings. Really… I don’t know where to have you sit.

Knurov. It doesn’t matter. I’ll sit some place. (He sits down.)

Mme Ogudalov. You must excuse Larisa, she’s changing. But I suppose I could hurry her up.

Knurov. No, why bother!

Mme Ogudalov. What made you think of visiting us?

Knurov. I walk about a lot before dinner, so I just dropped in.

Mme Ogudalov. You can rest assured, Moky Parmenych, that we consider your visit a special stroke of good fortune. I just can’t compare it with anything.

Knurov. So you’re marrying off Larisa Dmitriyevna?

Mme Ogudalov. Yes, she’s getting married, Moky Parmenych.

Knurov. There was a groom who’d take her without money?

Mme Ogudalov. Without money, Moky Parmenych. Where do you think we could get any money?

Knurov. Well then, does he have great means, that groom of yours?

Mme Ogudalov. What means! He has very little!

Knurov. I see… And how do you feel, do you think you’re doing the right thing to marry off Larisa Dmitriyevna to a poor man?

Mme Ogudalov. I don’t know, Moky Parmenych. I didn’t have anything to do with it, it was her choice.

Knurov. Well, and this young man, what about him? Do you think he’s doing the right thing?

Mme Ogudalov. Why not? I find it praiseworthy on his part.

Knurov. There’s nothing praiseworthy about it; on the contrary it’s blameworthy. To be sure, from his point of view he’s not being stupid. What is he, who knows him, who’s paid any attention to him! But now the whole town’ll start talking about him, he’s climbing into the best society, he allows himself to invite me to dinner, for example. But here’s the stupid part. He didn’t think or didn’t want to think about how and on what means he’s going to live with such a wife. That’s something you and I ought to talk about.

Mme Ogudalov. Be so kind, Moky Parmenych!

Knurov. What opinion do you have of your daughter? What’s she like?

Mme Ogudalov. I really don’t know what to say. About all I can do is listen to you.

Knurov. You know as well as I there’s none of that commonness in Larisa Dmitriyevna, none of that everyday stuff. Well, you know what I mean, none of the petty triviality you need for a family living in poverty.

Mme Ogudalov. There’s none of that, none.

Knurov. You could call her an ethereal creature.

Mme Ogudalov. An ethereal creature, Moky Parmenych.

Knurov. She was created for splendor.

Mme Ogudalov. For splendor, Moky Parmenych.

Knurov. And can your Karandyshov give her that splendor?

Mme Ogudalov. No, how could he!

Knurov. She won’t be able to endure life when it’s poor and common. And what will be left for her then? She’ll fade away, and then, the way these things go, she’ll end up with consumption.

Mme Ogudalov. Oh, how can you say things like that! God forbid!

Knurov. It would be a good thing if she’d decide very quickly to leave her husband and come back to you.

Mme Ogudalov. But that would be just more misery, Moky Parmenych, what would my daughter and I have to live on!

Knurov. Well, that’s a misery that could be remedied. The heartfelt concern of a strong and rich man…

Mme Ogudalov. How nice if such a concern should turn up.

Knurov. You should try to gain it. In cases like this it is quite necessary to have a good friend, one who’s solid and steady.

Mme Ogudalov. It is quite necessary.

Knurov. Now you might tell me that she’s not even married yet, that the time is still far off when she could leave her husband. Yes, it could well be far off, but then again it could be very close. So it’s better to let you know now, so you won’t make some kind of mistake, that I won’t begrudge a thing for Larisa Dmitriyevna. Why are you smiling?

Mme Ogudalov. It makes me very happy, Moky Parmenych, that you’re so well disposed to us.

Knurov. Do you think, perhaps, that my suggestions are not disinterested?

Mme Ogudalov. Oh, Moky Parmenych!