Gorski: Oh, you are quite a philosopher!
Viera: Listen . . . We are, most likely, talking about it for the last time . . . You are a bright man, but you made a bad mistake in me. Believe me, I did not live “au pied du mur” as your friend, Mukhin, often says. I did not impose sacrifices on you, but I looked for truth and simplicity. I did not demand of you to jump off the belfry, but instead of that
Mukhin [loud]: J’ai gagne.
Mlle. Beinaime: Eh bien! la revanche.
Viera: I did not let you play with me, that’s all . . . Believe me, I bear no malice.
Gorski: I congratulate ydu. Magnanimity becomes the conqueror.
Vieka: Then give me your hand . . . Here is mine. Gorski: Pardon me, but your hand does not belong to you any more.
[Viera turns away and, goes toward the pool table.]
Gorski: However, everything is for the best, in this world.
Viera: That’s it . . . Qui gagne?
Mukhin: Until now, I was.
Viera: Oh, you are a great man!
Gorski [patting him on the shoulder]: And my best friend! Is it not true, Ivan Pavlych? [Puts his hand in his pocket.] Oh, by the way, Viera Nikolaevna, please come this way — [Goes to front of stage.]
Viera [following him]: What do you want to tell me?
Gorski [takes the rose from his pocket and shows it to her]: What will you say to this? [Viera blushes and drops her eyes.] Isn’t it funny? Look, it has had no time to wither . . . [Bowing.] Permit me to return it to its owner.
Viera: If you had a little respect for me, you wouldn’t return it to me now.
Gorski [withdrawing his hand]: In that case — let this poor flower remain with me . . . However, the affection did not communicate itself to me — isn’t that right? Well, long live raillery, liveliness, and maliciousness! Now, I am again myself.
Viera: Very good.
Gorski: Look at me. [Viera looks at him. Gorski continues with some agitation.] Good - bye ... By the way, now is the time for me to exclaim: “Welche Perle warf ich weg!” But why should I? Everything is for the best.
Mukhin [shouting]: J’ai gagne encore une fois!
Viera: Everything is for the best, Gorski.
Gobski: Very likely, very likely . . . The reception - room door is being opened. The familiar polonaise is coming in!
[From the reception - room enter Anna Vasilevna, preceded by Stanitsyn; Varvara Ivanovna follows her. Viera runs to her mother and embraces her.] Libanova [in a tearful murmur]: Pourvu que tu sois heureuse, mon enfant . . .
[Stanitsyn is moved to tears.] Gorski [to himself]: What a touching scene! And to think that I could be in the place of this blockhead! No, I positively was not born for family life . . . [Aloud.] Well, Anna Vasilevna, have you finally finished your wise household arrangements of bills and accounts?
Libanova: I have finished, Eugene, I have finished. Why?
Gorski: I propose to hitch up the horses and the whole assembly shall go to the woods.
Libanova: With pleasure. Varvara Ivanovna, my dear, give the order.
Varvaba Ivanovna: Yes, ma’am; yes, ma’am. [Goes out to the vestibule.]
Mlle. Beinaime: Dieu! Que cela sera charmant! Gorski: You will see how foolish we’ll be ... I am as playful to - day as a little kitten ... [To himself.] The blood has gone to my head. From all these events, I feel as if I were drunk ... My God! How lovely she looks! [Aloud.] Take your hats; let’s go; let’s go. [To Stanitsyn.] Go up to her, you blockhead!
[Stanitsyn sluggishly goes up to Viera.] Gorski: Not like that! Calm yourself, my friend. During our walk, I shall bestir myself in your favor. You are revealing yourself to me in full splendor. How re
lieved I feel! . . . Pshaw! and so sadly painful. Well, that’s nothing. [Aloud.] Mesdames, let’s walk; the horses will overtake us. Libanova: Let’s go, let’s go.
Mukhin: What’s the matter? You act as if the devil possessed you!
Gorski: The devil it is . . . Anna Vasilevna, give me your arm. I still remain the master of ceremonies. Libanova: Yes, yes, Eugene, surely you do. Gorski: Very well! . . . Viera Nikolaevna, please give Stanitsyn your arm. Mlle. Beinaime, prenez mon ami, Mr. Mukhin, and the Captain, — where is the Captain?
Chukhanov [running in from the vestibule]: I am at your service. Who called me?
Gorski: Captain, give Varvara Ivanovna your arm. Here she is, coming in.
[Varvara Ivanovna enters.] Gorski: And go! In the name of the Lord, march! The horses will overtake us . . . Viera, you start. Anna Vasilevna and myself will be the rearguard.
Libanova [quietly to Gorski]: Ah, mon cher, si vous saviez, combien je suis heureuse aujourd’hui.
Mukhin [getting into line with Mlle. Beinaime, to Gorski]: It is all right, it is all right, my boy. You are putting on a brave front . . . but you know the proverb: “Where it is thin, there it breaks.”
Curtain.
THE FAMILY CHARGE
A Comedy in Two Acts
Translated by M.S. Mandell
CONTENTS
CHARACTERS
ACT ONE
ACT TWO
CHARACTERS
Pavel Nikolaich EletskI (Paul), a collegiate counselor, 32 years old. He is cold, dry, not foolish, and very prim. He is dressed simply, but with taste. He is very common, not a bad man, but heartless.
Olga Petrovna Eletskaia, nie Kobina, his wife, 21 years old. She is a good, kind being. Dreams about the world and is afraid of it. She loves her husband and carries herself very respectably. Dresses well.
Vasili Semenych Kuzovkin, a Nobleman, living at the Eletskis’ on charity bread. Fifty years old. He wears a coat with a stand - up collar and brass buttons.
Flegont Alexandrych Tropachev, the Eletskis’ neighbor, 36 years old. He is the proprietor of four hundred serfs. He is not married. He is tall, and presentable. Speaks loudly, and acts pompously. He has served in the cavalry and retired with the rank of Lieutenant. He often visits St. Petersburg, and is getting ready to go abroad. By nature he is coarse and even mean. He wears a green frook - ooat, tan - colored trousers, a tweed vest, silk tie with a huge pin in it. Wears patent leather high boots, and carries a cane with a gold head. Wears his hair short, d la malcontent.
Ivan Kuzmich Ivanov, another neighbor, 45 years, old. A quiet and silent being, but possessing a pride of his own. He is a friend of Kueovkin. He is prone to gloominess. He wears an old, cinnamon - colored frock coat, a yellow starohed waistcoat, and gray pants. He is very poor.
Kahpachov, also a neighbor, 40 years old. A very foolish man. Wears a moustache & la adjutant Tropachev. He isn’t rich. He wears a kind of hunting coat and very wide trousers. Speaks in a deep voice.
Nabtsys Konstantinych ( Konstantinovich ) Tbembinski, general superintendent at the Eletskis. He is an irritating, noisy busybody. In reality he is a mean, contemptible beast. He is well - dressed, as it behooves a manager of a rich estate. Speaks oor - rectly, but with a peculiar pronunciation.
Egob Aleksieich Kabtashov, clerk, about 60 years old. A fat, sleepy man. Steals whenever possible. He wears a blue long ooat.
Praskovia Ivanovna, housekeeper, about 50 years old. She is a dry, bilious creature. She wears a kerchief on her head; dark dress. Speaks languidly.
Masha (Mashka), chambermaid, 20 years old. A lively girl.
Anpadist, a tailor, 70 years old. A decrepit, half - insane man. Exhausted and worked out from long service.
Petb, a lackey, 25 years old. A young, healthy boy. A sneerer and a jester.
Vaska, a Cossack boy, 14 years old.
ACT ONE
Scene: A sitting - room in the house of a rich land - oumer. On the right are two windows and a door leading into the garden. On the left, a door leading into the reception - room. In the background, a door into the entry. Between the windows stands an extension table. Upon the table is a checker set. Towards the front, on the left, stands a table with two chairs at it. Between the reception - room and the vestibule there is a sma
ll passageway.
Trembinski [at back of stage]: What a disorder! I find disorder here in everything! It is unpardonable! [Entering in company with Petr, the lackey, and the Cossack, Vaska.] I have a formal writing from the Madam. Everyone here must mind me! [To Petr.] Do you understand me?
Petr: Yes, sir.
Trembinski: The Madam and her husband will be here to - day. They sent me here ahead of them, and what are we doing here? Nothing! [Turns to the Cossack.] What are you doing here? You like to stroll around too? Do nothing? [Gets hold of his ear and pulls it.] You want to be fed for nothing? All of your kind like to be fed for nothing. I know your kind. Get out of here! Go where you belong!
[Cossack boy goes out; Tkembinski sits down in a chair.] I’m pretty well tired out. [Jumps to his feet again.] Why haven’t I been introduced to the tailor? Where is he, that tailor?
Petr [looking into the vestibule]: There he is.
Trembinski: Why doesn’t he come in? What is he waiting out there for? Come in, my dear fellow. What is your name?
[Anpadist comes in, and remains at the door with his hands folded over his back.]
Trembinski [to Petr]: This is the tailor?
Petr: Yes, sir. That’s him.
Trembinski [to Anpadist]: How old are you, my dear fellow?
Anpadist: I am in my seventieth year, sir.
Trembinski [to Petr]: Is he the only tailor here?
Petr: No, sir. There was another, but he proved himself bad. He had a rotten mouth.
Trembinski [lifting his hand up high]: What disorder! [To Anpadist.] Well, old man, have you fulfilled the order?
Anpadist: I have, sir.
Trembinski: You put the collars on the livery coats?
Anpadist: I did, sir. Only, sir, there wasn’t enough yellow cloth, sir.
Trembinski: What did you do then?
Anpadist: Well, sir, they gave me a yellow petticoat, a kind of an old yellow petticoat.
Trembinski [dropping his hands]: Don’t say any more. Well, there is nothing to be done about it. We can’t go to town now after more cloth. Go! [Anpadist starts to go.] Now be quick about it; otherwise . . . Well, go. [Anpadist goes out. Trembinski sits down and jumps up again.] Oh, yes. Are they cleaning the paths in the garden?
Pete: Surely, they are cleaning them. A lot of single men were sent in from the country.
Trembinski [going up to Petr]: And who are you?
Petr [somewhat in doubt]: What is it?
Trembinski [goes up nearer to Petr]: Who are you, I ask — who are you?
Petr [with increased doubt]: I?
Trembinski [goes up very close to him]: Yes, you, you, you! Who are you?
[Petr gets confused, looks at Trembinski, and does not answer.]
Trembinski: Tell me! I ask you! Who are you?
Petr: I’m Petr.
Trembinski: No, you’re a lackey, that’s what you are. The house to attend to, — that’s your business; also to clean the lamps, but the garden has nothing to do with you. Whether they sent single men to do the work or married men, that has nothing to do with you. That’s the Manager’s business. I didn’t ask you that at all, and I didn’t demand any answer to that, either. Your business is to go and send the Manager here. That’s your business.
Petr: Here he is coming himself.
[Egor enters from the anteroom.]
Trembinski: Ah! Egor Aleksieich, you have come at a very opportune moment. Tell me, please, have you given orders in the garden concerning . . .
Egor: I have, Nartsys Konstantinych. Don’t trouble yourself about that. Won’t you snuff with me?
Trembinski [takes a little snuff with Egor and pushes it into his nose]: You won’t believe me, Egor Aleksieich, what trouble I have gone through since morning. I confess that I didn’t expect to find such disorder in so large an estate. Not in your department, surely — only in the household.
Egob: So?
Trembinski: Imagine, for instance, I ask, “Are there musicians among the household?” Of course you will understand the people must be met properly. I am told that there are musicians, so I said, “Bring them in.” And what do you think? Every musician has some other more important duty to perform! One is a gardener, one is a shoemaker, and the bass is a shepherd. Just think of that! And their instruments are out of order. I had awfully hard work to bring them into order. [Takes another snuff of tobacco.]
Egor: A very troublesome duty you’ve chosen.
Trembinski: Yes, I dare say. I am not going to eat my bread for nothing. Well, are the musicians at the gate now?
Egor: Surely, they are at the gate. A little rain began to fall, and they went into the servants’ room. They say that the instruments will get wet, but I must confess I kicked them out of there, for the people may come and they will just miss them. I told them to put their instruments under their coats.
Trembinski: Quite right, quite right! Now I think everything is in good shape.
Egor: You can rest assured, Nartsys Konstantinych. [Looks at Petr.] What are you standing there for? Goon, get out of here. Go to your place. [Petr goes out into the anteroom. From the corridor, Masha enters.] Ho, ho! Ho, ho! Where are you running to, my lady?
Masha: Oh, Egor Aleksieich, let me alone. Praskovia Ivanovna has tired me out as it is. [She runs into the anteroom.]
t Egor [follows her with his eyes, then turns to Trembinski and winks his eye. Tbembinski smiles]: Tell me, Nartsys Konstantinych, what time is it.
Trembinski [looks at his watch]: Quarter of eleven. Before we know it the people will be here.
[Kuzovkin appears in the anteroom. He stops, makes some signs in back of him, then he enters quietly and walks up to the table near the window.]
Egor: I’ll run into the office a moment. The Elder surely hasn’t combed his beard, and yet he’ll want td kiss the people. [Going out, he runs into Kuzovkin.]
Kuzovkin: How do you do, Egor Aleksieich.
Egor [not without a bit of regret]: Oh, Vasili Semenych; I can’t be bothered with you now. [Goes into the anteroom.] [Kuzovkin continues to get nearer to the window.]
Trembinski [looks around and notices Kuzovkin. To himself]: Who’s that? [Kuzovkin bows to Trembinski. Trembinski shakes his head a little, and talks to Kuzovkin over his shoulder.] Well, you’re here, too. You want to meet the young couple, too, eh?
Kuzovkin: Why not?
Trembinski: Well, are you glad? [Not waiting for his answer.] Have you changed your clothes?
Kuzovkin: Yes . . That is . . .
Trembinski: All right, all right! You can stay here in the corner. You can sit down here if you like. [Kuzovkin fcows.] Oh, yes, I forgot. Petr! Whaf s the matter, is there nobody in the anteroom?
Ivanov [appears halfway through the door]: What do you wish, sir?
Trembinski [with some surprise]: Let me see. How did it happen that you . . .
Ivanov [coming in further]: I am Ivanov. Ivan Kuz - mich, a friend of his. [Points to Kuzovkin.]
Kuzovkin [to Trembinski]: A neighbor. He belongs here. ... He has come to visit me.
Tbembinski [drawling and shaking his head]: Oh, this isn’t the right time, nor the place, gentlemen.
[Pete comes in from the anteroom, pushing away Ivanov. Ivanov hides himself.]
Tbembinski: Where do you keep yourself? Follow me! I want to see what you have done there in the office. I am sure nothing is there as I ordered it. One hardly can depend upon you fellows.
[Both go into the sitting room. Kuzovkin remains alone.]
Kuzovkin [after a short silence]: Ivan. Oh, Ivan.
Ivanov [from the anteroom]: What?
Kuzovkin: Come in, Ivan. It’s all right, you can come in.
Ivanov [entering slowly]: I’d better go away.
Kuzovkin: No, remain here. What of it. You have come to see me. Come here. Sit down right here. This is my corner.
Ivanov: We had better get into your room.
Kuzovkin: We can’t go into my room now. The laundry is being exam
ined there, and they’ve got a lot of featherbeds there. Why isn’t it all right here?
Ivanov: No, I had better go home.
Kuzovkin: No, Ivan, remain here. Sit down right here, and I’ll sit down too. [Kuzovkin sits down.] The young people will soon arrive. We’ll have a look at them.
Works of Ivan Turgenev (Illustrated) Page 360