The Storm

hands full with her for many a long year yet.

KABANOV. Who would have dreamed of her coming here! A place so frequented. No one would ever think of hiding here.

MME. KABANOVA. That's just her way! The shameless hussy! She wants to keep up her character, it seems!

[A crowd with torches collects, coming in from different directions.

ONE OF THE CROWD.

Well, is she found?

MME. KABANOVA.

It seems not. She seems to have vanished into the earth.

SEVERAL VOICES.

How strange! It's a queer thing. And where could she hide?

ONE OF THE CROWD.

Oh, she'll be found!

A SECOND.

Of course she'll be found!

A THIRD.

To be sure, she'll come back of herself.

[A voice behind the scene: 'Hi, boat there!'

KULIGIN (from the bank).

Who's calling? What is it?

[The voice: 'A woman's thrown herself into the water!' Kuligin and several men after him run out.

SCENE VI

MME. KABANOVA, and KABANOV and Crowd.

KABANOV. Merciful Heavens, it is she! (tries to run off. Mme. Kabanova holds his arm) Mamma, let me go! I will save her! or I too … What can I do without her!

MME. KABANOVA. I'm not going to let you go, and don't you suppose it! Kill yourself on her account; she's worth that, isn't she? As if she'd not brought disgrace enough on us already, to plot to do a thing like this too!

KABANOV.

Let me go!

MME. KABANOVA.

There are plenty to help without you. I'll curse you if you go.

KABANOV (falling on his knees).

Oh, to look upon her at least!

MME. KABANOVA.

They'll pull her out—you'll look upon her, right enough.

KABANOV (gets up. To the crowd).

Well, my lads, do you see anything?

ONE OF THE CROWD.

It's dark down below, there's nothing in sight.

[A noise behind the scene.

A SECOND.

They seemed to be shouting something, but I couldn't make out what.

THE FIRST.

That's Kuligin's voice.

THE SECOND.

They're coming along the bank with torches.

THE FIRST.

They're coming this way, and they're carrying her.

[Several people come back.

ONE OF THOSE WHO HAVE COME BACK. That Kuligin's a brave fellow! It was close here in a deep pool, near the bank; with the torchlight we could see a long way off in the water; he saw her dress and pulled her out.

KABANOV.

Alive?

THE MAN. How could she be alive? She had thrown herself from the height; the bank is steep there, and she must have fallen upon the anchor, she was so injured, poor thing! But she looks as though she were alive! Only one little wound on the temple, and one single stain of blood on it.