The Storm

Oh, so that's it! Well, I humbly congratulate you!

BORIS.

What for?

KUDRIASH. Well, things look promising for you, since she's sent you word to come here.

BORIS.

Can it be she sent word?

KUDRIASH.

Why, who else could it be?

BORIS.

No, you're making fun of me! It can't be so. (Clutches his head.)

KUDRIASH.

What's the matter?

BORIS.

I shall go mad with joy.

KUDRIASH. What next! I can't see anything to go mad about! You look out that you don't make a mess of things and get her into trouble! Her husband's a fool, we all know, but her mother-in-law is terrible.

[Varvara comes out of the gate.

SCENE VII

The Same and VARVARA, afterwards KATERINA.

VARVARA (at the gate, sings).

 'Beyond the river, the swift river,

  My Vania's walking, dear Vania's walking' …

KUDRIASH (going on with the song).

  'Going to the fair.' (Whistles.)

VARVARA (comes down the path and, hiding her face in her kerchief, goes

up to Boris).

You wait a bit, lad. You've something to wait for. (To Kudriash) Let's

go to the Volga.

KUDRIASH. Why have you been so long? Kept me waiting again! You know I don't like it! (Varvara puts one arm round him and they walk away.)

BORIS. It's like a dream! This night, and singing and trysts! They're walking, their arms round each other. It is so new for me, so sweet! Here I am waiting for something. And what I am waiting for—I know not and cannot picture to myself; only my heart is throbbing and every nerve is quivering. I cannot think even what to say to her, I can hardly breathe, my knees are shaking! My stupid heart is in my mouth, I can't quiet it. Here she comes. (Katerina slowly comes down the path, wrapt in a large white kerchief, her eyes fixed on the ground. Silence.) Is it you? Katerina Petrovna? (Silence.) How can I ever thank you,—I don't know. (Silence.) If you only knew, Katerina Petrovna, how I love you!

[Tries to take her hand.

KATERINA (with terror, but not raising her eyes).

Do not touch me, do not touch me! Alas, alas!

BORIS.

Do not be angry!

KATERINA. Go away from me, go away, unhappy man! Do you know that never by any prayer can I be free of this sin, never again! Like a stone it will lie on my soul, like a stone.

BORIS.

Do not send me away!

KATERINA.

Why did you come? Why did you come for my undoing? I am a wife, you know,

I must live with my husband, till I lie in the grave….

BORIS.

You told me yourself to come …

KATERINA.

Till the grave; do you understand?

BORIS.

Better if I had never seen you.

KATERINA (with great emotion). You see what I am preparing for myself? What is the only place left for me?