A Month in the Country

NATALYA PETROVNA. Michel, for the last time. . . . You said just now that you were sorry for me. ... Is this how you show it? Can you really . . .

RAKITIN [coldly]. Am I to send her?

NATALYA PETROVNA [with annoyance]. Yes. [RAKITIN goes into the study. NATALYA PETROVNA stands for some time motionless, sits down, takes a book from the talle, opens it, lets it fall on her lap.] He too! It's awful. He ... he too! And I relied upon him. And Arkady? Good heavens! I have never even thought of him! [Drawing herself up.] I see it's high time to put a stop to all this. . . . [VERA comes in from the study.] Yes . . . high time.

VERA [timidly]. You sent for me, Natalya Petrovna?

NATALYA PETROVNA [looking round quickly]. Ah! Verotchka! Yes, I wanted you.

VERA [going up to her]. Are you unwell?

NATALYA PETROVNA. Me? Oh no, why?

VERA. I fancied . . .

NATALYA PETROVNA. No, it's nothing. I'm feeling the heat a little. . . . That's all. Sit down. [VERA sits down] Tell me, Vera, are you doing anything particular just now?

VERA. No.

NATALYA PETROVNA. I ask you because I want to have a talk with you ... a serious talk. You see, my dear, I've always looked on you as a child; but you are seventeen; you are a sensible girl. . . . It's time for you to think about your future. You know I love you as a daughter; my house will always be your home . . . but all the same, in other people's eyes, you are an orphan; you have no fortune. You may in time grow tired of always living with strangers; tell me would you like to be mistress in your own house, absolute mistress in it?

VERA [slowly]. I don't understand you, Natalya Petrovna.

NATALYA PETROVNA [after a pause]. I have received an offer of marriage for you. [VERA stares at her in amazement] You didn't expect that; I must own it seems strange to me too. You are so young. ... I need not tell you that I do not mean to put pressure on you. ... In my opinion you're too young to be married; but I thought it my duty to tell you. . . . [VERA suddenly hides her face in her hands] Vera . . . what is it? You're crying? [Takes her hand] You're trembling all over? . . . Surely you're not afraid of me, Vera?

VERA [in a toneless voice], I'm in your power, Natalya Petrovna.

NATALYA PETROVNA [taking VERA'S hands from her face]. Vera, aren't you ashamed to cry? Aren't you ashamed to say that you're in my power? What do you take me for? I am speaking to you as I would to a daughter, and you . . . [VERA kisses her hands.] What? You are in my power? Then please laugh at once! ... I tell you to. ... [VERA smiles through her tears.] That's right. [NATALYA PETROVNA puts one arm round her and draws her closer.] Vera, my child, treat me as though I were your mother, or no, imagine that I'm an elder sister and let us have a little talk together about all these wonderful things.... Will you? VERA. Oh, yes.

NATALYA PETROVNA. Well, listen then. . . . Come a little nearer. That's right. To begin with, as you're my sister, we suppose there's no need for me to assure you that this is your home; a girl with eyes like yours is at home everywhere. So it ought never to enter your head that you are a burden to anybody in the world or that anybody wants to get rid of you. . . . You hear? But now one fine day your sister comes to you and says: Just think, Vera, you have a suitor. . . . Well? What answer would you make? That you are too young, that you are not thinking of marriage? VERA. Yes, Natalya Petrovna.

NATALYA PETROVNA. But you wouldn't speak like that to your sister.

VERA [smiling]. Oh . . . yes, then. NATALYA PETROVNA. Your sister agrees with you, the suitor is refused and there's the end of it. But suppose the suitor is a good man, and well-to-do, and if he is willing to wait, if he only asks permission to see you occasionally in the hope of gaining your affections in time? VERA. Who is this suitor?

NATALYA PETROVNA. Ah! you would like to know! You don't guess?

VERA. No.

NATALYA PETROVNA. You have seen him to-day. [VERA flushes crimson.] It is true he is not very handsome, and not very young. . . . Bolshintsov.

VERA. Afanasy Ivanitch?

NATALYA PETROVNA. Yes. . . . Afanasy Ivanitch.

VERA [gazes for some time at NATALYA PETROVNA, suddenly begins laughing, then stops]. You're not joking?

NATALYA PETROVNA [smiling]. No . . . but I see there's no hope for Bolshintsov. If you had cried at his name, he might have hoped, but you laugh; there's nothing for him but to go his way, bless him!

VERA. I'm sorry... but really I didn't expect... Surely people don't get married at his age?

NATALYA PETROVNA. What an idea! How old is he? He's not fifty. The very age to marry.

VERA. Perhaps .. . but he has such a queer face. .. .

NATALYA PETROVNA. Well, don't let us say any more about him. He's dead and buried . . . bless him! But it's only natural a child of your age cannot care for a man like Bolshintsov. . . . You all want to marry for love, not from prudence, don't you?

VERA. Yes, Natalya Petrovna, and you . . . didn't you marry Arkady Sergeyitch for love too?

NATALYA PETROVNA [after a pause]. Of course. [Another pause, squeezing VERA'S hands.] Yes, Vera. . I called you a child just now . . . but children are right. [VERA drops her eyes.] And so that business is settled. Bolshintsov is dismissed. I must own it wouldn't have been quite pleasant to me to see his puffy old countenance beside your fresh young face, though he is a very good man. Do you see now how little reason you had to be afraid of me? How quickly it's all settled! . . . [Reproachfully.] Really, you behaved to me as though I were your patroness! You know how I hate that word. . . .

VERA [embracing her]. Forgive me, Natalya Petrovna.

NATALYA PETROVNA. I should hope so. Really? You're not afraid of me?

VERA. No, I love you. I'm not afraid of you.

NATALYA PETROVNA. Thank you. So now we are great friends, and will have no secrets from each other. Well, suppose I were to ask you, Verotchka, whisper in my ear; is it only because Bolshintsov is much older than you, and not a beauty, that you don't want to marry him?

VERA. Surely that's reason enough, Natalya Petrovna?

NATALYA PETROVNA. I don't deny it... but is there no other reason?

VERA. I don't know him at all.

NATALYA PETROVNA. Quite so; but you don't answer my question.

VERA. There's no other reason.

NATALYA PETROVNA. Really? In that case, I should advise you to think it over. It wouldn't be easy to be in love with Bolshintsov, I know . . . but I say again, he's a good man. Of course, if you cared for anyone else . . . that would be a different matter. But your heart has told you nothing so far, has it?

VERA [timidly]. What do you mean?

NATALYA PETROVNA. You love no one else?

VERA. I love you . . . Kolya; I love Anna Semyonovna too.

NATALYA PETROVNA. I'm not speaking of that sort of love; you don't understand me. . . . Among the young men you may have seen here, for instance, or at parties, is there no one who attracts you?

VERA. No. ... I like some of them, but . . .

NATALYA PETROVNA. I noticed, for instance, that at the Krinitsyns' you danced three times with that tall officer, what's his name?

VERA. An officer?

NATALYA PETROVNA. Yes, that man with a big moustache.