A Month in the Country

RAKITIN. Nothing really.

ANNA SEMYONOVNA. How can there be nothing the matter, Mihail Alexandritch? [After a pause.] I'll go and see. ... [Is about to go into the study.,]

RAKITIN [stopping her]. No, you had better leave her in peace, please.

ISLAYEV. But what does it all mean? Tell us.

RAKITIN. Nothing, I assure you. ... I promise to explain it to you both to-day. I give you my word. But now, please, if you have any trust in me, don't ask me . . . and don't worry Natalya Petrovna.

ISLAYEV. Very well. . . but it is strange. This sort of thing has never happened with Natasha before. It's something quite out of the way.

ANNA SEMYONOVNA. What I want to know is what could make Natasha cry? And why has she gone away? . . . Are we strangers?

RAKITIN. Of course not. What an idea! But as a matter of fact, we had not finished our conversation. . . , I must ask you . . . both--to leave us alone for a little while.

ISLAYEV. Indeed? There's some secret between you, then?

RAKITIN. Yes . . . but you shall know it.

ISLAYEV [after a moment's thought]. Come along, Mamma. . . . Let us leave them. Let them finish their mysterious conversation.

ANNA SEMYONOVNA. But. . .

ISLAYEV. Come, let us go. You hear he promises to explain.

RAKITIN. You needn't worry. . .. ISLAYEV [coldly]. I'm not worrying. [To ANNA SEMYONOVNA.] Let us go. [They go out.]

RAKITIN [looks after them and goes quickly to the study door]. Natalya Petrovna, Natalya Petrovna, please come back.

NATALYA PETROVNA [comes out of the study. She is very pale]. What did they say?

RAKITIN. Nothing, don't worry yourself. . . . They were rather surprised, certainly. Arkady thought you were ill.... He noticed how upset you were. ... Sit down, you can hardly stand. . . . [NATALYA PETROVNA sits downJ] I said ... I begged him not to worry you ... to leave us alone. NATALYA PETROVNA. And he agreed? RAKITIN. Yes. I had, I must say, to promise I'd explain it all to-morrow. Why did you go away?

NATALYA PETROVNA [bitterly]. Why indeed! What are you going to say?

RAKITIN. I'll . . . I'll think of something to say. But that's no matter just now. We must take advantage of this reprieve. You see that this can't go on. ... These violent emotions are too much for you. . . . They are unworthy of you. ... I myself. . But that's not the point. Only be firm and I'll manage. You agreed with me, you know. NATALYA PETROVNA. About what? RAKITIN. The necessity of ... our going. You do agree? If that's so, it's no good to delay. If you'll let me, I'll talk to Beliayev at once. . . . He's a decent fellow, he'll understand.

NATALYA PETROVNA. You want to talk to him? You? But what can you say to him?

RAKITIN [in embarrassment], I'll . . .

NATALYA PETROVNA [after a brief pause]. Rakitin, listen, don't you think that we're both behaving like lunatics? . . . I was in a panic, I frightened you, and perhaps it's all about nothing that matters.

RAKITIN. What?

NATALYA PETROVNA. Really? What's the matter with us? It seems only a little while ago everything was so quiet and peaceful in this house . . . and all at once . . . goodness knows how! Really we've all gone out of our minds. Come, it's time to stop, we've been silly enough. . . . Let us go on as before. . . . And there'll be no need to explain anything to Arkady; I'll tell him about our antics myself and we'll laugh over them together. I need no one to intercede between my husband and me!

RAKITIN. Natalya Petrovna, you are frightening me now. You are smiling and you're as pale as death. ... Do remember what you said to me only a quarter of an hour ago. . . .

NATALYA PETROVNA. I dare say! But I see what it is. . . . You're raising this storm . . . that you may not sink alone.

RAKITIN. Again, again suspicion, again reproaches, Natalya Petrovna. . . . God forgive you . . . but you torture me. Or do you regret having spoken so freely?

NATALYA PETROVNA. I regret nothing.

RAKITIN. Then how am I to understand you?

NATALYA PETROVNA [eagerly]. Rakitin, if you say a single word from me or about me to Beliayev, I will never forgive you.

RAKITIN. Oh! so that's it! ... Don't worry, Natalya Petrovna. So far from telling Mr. Beliayev anything, I won't even say good-bye to him, when I take my departure. I don't mean to pester you with my services.

NATAYLA PETROVNA [with some embarrassment]. You imagine perhaps that I have changed my mind about... his going?

RAKITIN. I imagine nothing.

NATALYA PETROVNA. That's not so. I'm so convinced of the necessity, as you say, of his leaving that I mean to dismiss him myself. [A pause.] Yes, I will dismiss him myself.

RAKITIN. You?

NATALYA PETROVNA. Yes. And at once. I beg you to send him to me.

RAKITIN. What? This minute?

NATALYA PETROVNA. This very minute. I ask you to do so, Rakitin. You see I am composed now. Besides, I shan't be interrupted just now. I must seize the opportunity. ... I shall be very much obliged to you. I'll question him.

RAKITIN. But he won't tell you anything. I can assure you. He admitted to me that he felt awkward with you.

NATALYA PETROVNA [suspiciously]. Ah! You've been talking to him about me. [RAKITIN shrugs his shoulders.] Oh, forgive me, forgive me, Michel, and send him to me. You'll see, I will dismiss him and all will be over. It will all pass and be forgotten, like a bad dream. Please fetch him. I absolutely must have a final conversation with him. You will be pleased with me. Pray do.

RAKITIN [who has not taken his eyes off her all this time, coldly and mournfully]. Certainly. Your wishes shall be obeyed. [Goes towards door of outer room.]

NATALYA PETROVNA [after him]. Thank you, Michel.

RAKITIN [turning]. Oh, spare me your thanks, at least. . . . [Goes out quickly,.]

NATALYA PETROVNA [alone, after a pause]. He's a good man. . . . But is it possible I ever loved him? [Stands up.] He is right. He must go. But how can I dismiss him? I only want to know whether he really cares for that girl. Perhaps it's all nonsense. . . . How could I be worked up into such a state? What was the object of all that outburst? Well, it can't be helped now. I want to know what he is going to say. But he must go. ... He must... he must. . . . He may not be willing to answer. . . . He's afraid of me, of course. . . . Well? So much the better. There's no need for me to say much to him. . . . [Lays her hand on her forehead.] My head aches. Shall I put it off till to-morrow? Yes. I keep fancying they are all watching me to-day. . . . What am I coming to! No, better make an end of it at once. . . . Just one last effort and I am free. . . . Oh yes! I yearn for freedom and peace.

[BELIAYEV comes in from the outer room.] Here he is. ...

BELIAYEV [Going up to her]. Natalya Petrovna, Mihail Alexandritch tells me you want to see me.

NATALYA PETROVNA [with some effort]. Yes, certainly . . I have to ... speak to you. . . .

BELIAYEV. Speak to me?

NATALYA PETROVNA [without looking at him]. Yes . . . speak to you. [A pause.] I must tell you, Alexey Nikolaitch, I'm . . . I'm displeased with you.

BELIAYEV. May I ask on what ground?

NATALYA PETROVNA. Listen. ... I ... I really don't know how to begin. However, I must tell you first that my