The Power of Darkness

Akoulína. Where’s the concertina? Akoulína The concertina? He’s bethought himself of it. Why, you took it to be mended. I’ve poured out your tea. Drink it! Nikíta I don’t want it! Put out the light⁠ ⁠… Oh, how dull I feel, how dull! Sobs.

Curtain.

Act IV

Autumn. Evening. The moon is shining. The stage represents the interior of courtyard. The scenery at the back shows, in the middle, the back porch of the hut. To the right the winter half of the hut and the gate; to the left the summer half and the cellar. To the right of the stage is a shed. The sound of tipsy voices and shouts are heard from the hut.5 Second Neighbour Woman comes out of the hut and beckons to First Neighbour Woman.

Second Neighbour	How’s it Akoulína has not shown herself?
First Neighbour	Why hasn’t she shown herself? She’d have been glad to; but she’s too ill, you know. The suitor’s relatives have come, and want to see the girl; and she, my dear, she’s lying in the cold hut and can’t come out, poor thing!
Second Neighbour	But how’s that?
First Neighbour	They say she’s been bewitched by an evil eye! She’s got pains in the stomach!
Second Neighbour	You don’t say so?
First Neighbour	What else could it be? Whispers.
Second Neighbour	Dear me! There’s a go! But his relatives will surely find it out?
First Neighbour	They find it out! They’re all drunk! Besides, they are chiefly after her dowry. Just think what they give with the girl! Two furs, my dear, six dresses, a French shawl, and I don’t know how many pieces of linen, and money as well⁠—two hundred roubles, it’s said!
Second Neighbour	That’s all very well, but even money can’t give much pleasure in the face of such a disgrace.
First Neighbour	Hush!⁠ ⁠… There’s his father, I think.
	They cease talking, and go into the hut.
	The Suitor’s Father comes out of the hut hiccuping.
The Father	Oh, I’m all in a sweat. It’s awfully hot! Will just cool myself a bit. Stands puffing. The Lord only knows what⁠—something is not right. I can’t feel happy.⁠—Well, it’s the old woman’s affair.
	Enter Matryóna from hut.
Matryóna	And I was just thinking, where’s the father? Where’s the father? And here you are, dear friend.⁠ ⁠… Well, dear friend, the Lord be thanked! Everything is as honourable as can be! When one’s arranging a match one should not boast. And I have never learnt to boast. But as you’ve come about the right business, so with the Lord’s help, you’ll be grateful to me all your life! She’s a wonderful girl! There’s no other like her in all the district!
The Father	That’s true enough, but how about the money?
Matryóna	Don’t you trouble about the money! All she had from her father goes with her. And it’s more than one gets easily, as things are nowadays. Three times fifty roubles!
The Father	We don’t complain, but it’s for our own child. Naturally we want to get the best we can.
Matryóna	I’ll tell you straight, friend: if it hadn’t been for me, you’d never have found anything like her! They’ve had an offer from the Karmílins, but I stood out against it. And as for the money, I’ll tell you truly: when her father, God be merciful to his soul, was dying, he gave orders that the widow should take Nikíta into the homestead⁠—of course I know all about it from my son⁠—and the money was to go to Akoulína. Why, another one might have thought of his own interests, but Nikíta gives everything clean! It’s no trifle. Fancy what a sum it is!
The Father	People are saying, that more money was left her? The lad’s sharp too!
Matryóna	Oh, dear soul alive! A slice in another’s hand always looks big; all she had will be handed over. I tell you, throw doubts to the wind and make all sure! What a girl she is! as fresh as a daisy!
The Father	That’s so. But my old woman and I were only wondering about the girl; why has she not come out? We’ve been thinking, suppose she’s sickly?
Matryóna	Oh, ah.⁠ ⁠… Who? She? Sickly? Why, there’s none to compare with her in the district. The girl’s as sound as a bell; you can’t pinch her. But you saw her the other day! And as for work, she’s wonderful! She’s a bit deaf, that’s true, but there are spots on the sun, you know. And her not coming out, you see, it’s from an evil eye! A spell’s been cast on her! And I know the bitch who’s done the business! They know of the betrothal and they bewitched her. But I know a counter-spell. The girl will get up tomorrow. Don’t you worry about the girl!
The Father	Well, of course, the thing’s settled.
Matryóna	Yes, of course! Don’t you turn back. And don’t forget me, I’ve had a lot of trouble. Don’t forget⁠ ⁠…
	A woman’s voice from the hut.
Voice	If we are to go, let’s go. Come along, Iván!
The Father	I’m coming. Exeunt. Guests crowd together in the passage and prepare to go away.
Nan	Runs out of the hut and calls to Anísya. Mother!
Anísya	From inside. What d’you want?
Nan	Mother, come here, or they’ll hear.
	Anísya enters and they go together to the shed.
Anísya	Well? What is it? Where’s Akoulína?
Nan	She’s gone into the barn. It’s awful what’s she’s doing there! I’m blest! “I can’t bear it,” she says. “I’ll scream,” she says, “I’ll scream out loud.” Blest if she didn’t.
Anísya	She’ll have to wait. We’ll see our visitors off first.
Nan	Oh mother! She’s so bad! And she’s angry too. “What’s the good of their drinking my health?” she says. “I shan’t marry,” she says. “I shall die,” she says. Mother, supposing she does die! It’s awful. I’m so frightened!
Anísya	No fear, she’ll not die. But don’t you go near her. Come along. Exit