The Storm

BORIS.

What are you afraid of?

VARVARA. You don't know her. She's a strange creature. One never knows what to expect from her! She will do things …

BORIS. My God! What's to be done? You must talk to her thoroughly. Can't you manage to soothe her?

VARVARA.

I've tried. She doesn't even hear. Better leave her alone.

BORIS.

Well, what do you suppose she may do?

VARVARA. Why, simply this: fling herself down at her husband's feet, and tell him everything. That's what I'm afraid of.

BORIS (with horror).

Could she possibly!

VARVARA.

She may do anything.

BORIS.

Where is she now?

VARVARA. At this moment she's out on the parade with her husband, and my mother's with them too. You go and meet them, if you like. But no, you'd better not go, or she'll very likely lose her head completely. (A peal of thunder in the distance) Isn't that thunder? (Looks out) Yes, it's raining too. And here are people coming this way. Get somewhere out of sight, and I'll stand here where I can be seen, so that they won't notice anything. (Enter several persons of both sexes and different classes.)

SCENE IV

VARVARA and various persons, and later, MME. KABANOVA, KABANOV, KATERINA and KULIGIN.

FIRST. The good lady seems awfully frightened by the way she's hurrying for shelter.

A WOMAN. No use seeking shelter! If it's written in the book of fate, there's no escaping!

KATERINA (running in).

Ah, Varvara! (Seizes her hand and holds it tight.)

VARVARA.

Come, be quiet!

KATERINA.

It will be my death!

VARVARA.

Come, come! Pull yourself together!

KATERINA.

No! I can't. I can do nothing. My heart aches so.

MME. KABANOVA (entering).

Let me tell you, one should live so as to be always ready for anything.

You would not be in such terror then.

KABANOV. But what sins in special has she to frighten her, mamma? Her sins are no more than all of us have to repent; being afraid of storms is a matter of temperament.

MME. KABANOVA.

How do you know, pray? The heart of another is darkness.

KABANOV (jestingly).

Oh well, maybe, something very wicked while I was away; certainly when

I've been here she never did anything bad.

MME. KABANOVA.

Maybe, when you were away, then.

KABANOV (jesting). Katia, my girl, you'd better repent, if you've been sinful in any way. You can't have secrets from me, you know; no, you naughty girl, I know all about it.

KATERINA (looks him straight in the face).

Dear Tihon!

VARVARA.

Come, why do you keep teazing her? Can't you see she's not well?

[Boris steps out of the crowd and bows to the Kabanovs.

KATERINA (shrieks).

Ah!