The Power of Darkness

down the steps of the porch to Anísya and Nikíta. Don’t go anywhere. He’s got the money on him. I felt it on a string round his neck. Anísya Oh my head, my head! Matryóna If you don’t keep wide awake now, then you may whistle for it. If his sister comes⁠—then goodbye to it! Anísya That’s true. She’ll come and he’ll give it her. What’s to be done? Oh my poor head! Matryóna What is to be done? Why, look here; the samovar is boiling, go and make the tea and pour him out a cup, and then whispers put in all that’s left in the paper. When he’s drunk the cup, then just take it. He’ll not tell, no fear. Anísya Oh! I’m afeared! Matryóna Don’t be talking now, but look alive, and I’ll keep his sister off if need be. Mind, don’t make a blunder! Get hold of the money and bring it here, and Nikíta will hide it. Anísya Oh my head, my head! I don’t know how I’m going to⁠ ⁠… Matryóna Don’t talk about it I tell you, do as I bid you. Nikíta! Nikíta What is it? Matryóna You stay here⁠—sit down⁠—in case something is wanted. Nikíta Waves his hand. Oh these women, what won’t they be up to? Muddle one up completely. Bother them! I’ll really go and fetch out the potatoes. Matryóna Catches him by the arm. Stay here, I tell you. Nan enters. Anísya Well? Nan She was down in her daughter’s vegetable plot⁠—she’s coming. Anísya Coming! What shall we do? Matryóna There’s plenty of time if you do as I tell you. Anísya I don’t know what to do; I know nothing, my brain’s all in a whirl. Nan! Go, daughter, and see to the calves, they’ll have run away, I’m afraid.⁠ ⁠… Oh dear, I haven’t the courage. Matryóna Go on! I should think the samovar’s boiling over. Anísya Oh my head, my poor head! Exit. Matryóna Approaches Nikíta. Now then, sonnie. Sits down beside him. Your affairs must also be thought about, and not left anyhow. Nikíta What affairs? Matryóna Why, this affair⁠—how you’re to live your life. Nikíta How to live my life? Others live, and I shall live! Matryóna The old man will probably die today. Nikíta Well, if he dies, God give him rest! What’s that to me? Matryóna Keeps looking towards the porch while she speaks. Eh, sonnie! Those that are alive have to think about living. One needs plenty of sense in these matters, honey. What do you think? I’ve tramped all over the place after your affairs, I’ve got quite footsore bothering about matters. And you must not forget me when the time comes. Nikíta And what’s it you’ve been bothering about? Matryóna About your affairs, about your future. If you don’t take trouble in good time you’ll get nothing. You know Iván Moséitch? Well, I’ve been to him too. I went there the other day. I had something else to settle, you know. Well, so I sat and chatted awhile and then came to the point. “Tell me, Iván Moséitch,” says I, “how’s one to manage an affair of this kind? Supposing,” says I, “a peasant as is a widower married a second wife, and supposing all the children he has is a daughter by the first wife, and a daughter by the second. Then,” says I, “when that peasant dies, could an outsider get hold of the homestead by marrying the widow? Could he,” says I, “give both the daughters in marriage and remain master of the house himself?” “Yes, he could,” says he, “but,” says he, “it would mean a deal of trouble; still the thing could be managed by means of money, but if there’s no money it’s no good trying.” Nikíta Laughs. That goes without saying, only fork out the money. Who does not want money? Matryóna Well then, honey, so I spoke out plainly about the affair. And he says, “First and foremost, your son will have to get himself on the register of that village⁠—that will cost something. The elders will have to be treated. And they, you see, they’ll sign. Everything,” says he, “must be done sensibly.” Look, unwraps her kerchief and takes out a paper he’s written out this paper; just read it, you’re a scholar, you know. Nikíta reads. Nikíta This paper’s only a decision for the elders to sign. There’s no great wisdom needed for that. Matryóna But you just hear what Iván Moséitch bids us do. “Above all,” he says, “mind and don’t let the money slip away, dame. If she don’t get hold of the money,” he says, “they’ll not let her do it. Money’s the great thing!” So look out, sonnie, things are coming to a head. Nikíta What’s that to me? The money’s hers⁠—so let her look out. Matryóna Ah, sonnie, how you look at it! How can a woman manage such affairs? Even if she does get the money, is she capable of arranging it all? One knows what a woman is! You’re a man anyhow. You can hide it, and all that. You see, you’ve after all got more sense, in case of anything happening. Nikíta Oh, your woman’s notions are all so inexpedient! Matryóna Why inexpedient? You just collar the money, and the woman’s in your hands. And then should she ever turn snappish you’d be able to tighten the reins! Nikíta Bother you all⁠—I’m going. Anísya Quite pale, runs out of the hut and round the corner to Matryóna. So it was, it was on him! Here it is! Shows that she has something under her apron. Matryóna Give it to Nikíta, he’ll hide it. Nikíta, take it and hide it somewhere. Nikíta All right, give here! Anísya O-oh, my poor head! No, I’d better do it myself. Goes towards the gate. Matryóna Seizing her by the arm. Where are you going to? You’ll be missed. There’s the sister coming; give it him; he knows what to do. Eh, you blockhead! Anísya Stops irresolutely. Oh, my head, my head! Nikíta Well, give it here. I’ll shove it