Four Plays | Page 8

Never mind, my dear. One must do good to his neighbor.
VASILíSA PEREGRíNOVNA. But do they feel that good? Can they understand, heartless creatures, how great is your condescension to them?
MADAM ULANBéKOV. It's all the same to me, my dear! One must do good for his own sake, for his own soul. Then I stopped in to see the chief of police, and asked him to make NEGLIGéNTOV head-clerk.
VASILíSA PEREGRíNOVNA. But, my benefactress, is he worthy?
MADAM ULANBéKOV. Don't interrupt! A strange man, our chief of police! I ask him, and he says: "There's no job!" I say to him: "You evidently don't understand who's asking you?" "Well!" says he, "do you expect me to drive out a good man for your godson?" Churlish fellow! However, he promised!
VASILíSA PEREGRíNOVNA. To think of his hesitating! I cannot understand how he could even talk back to you. Here his ill-breeding shows up at once. Maybe NEGLIGéNTOV, because of his life, isn't worth saying much about; nevertheless, the chief ought to do everything in the world for him for your sake, no matter how worthless a scamp NEGLIGéNTOV might be.
MADAM ULANBéKOV. Don't you forget that he's my godson!
VASILíSA PEREGRíNOVNA. And for that very reason, benefactress, I add: he is your godson; well, and that's all there is to it; the chief of police ought not to listen to any kind of gossip. And, besides, what things they do say! They say that he's utterly worthless, that his uncle got him a court job, but he won't stay with it. He was gone a whole week, they say, somewhere or other about three miles down the highroad, near the tavern, fishing. Yes, and that he is a drunkard beyond his years. But whose business is it? He must be worthy of it, since you ask it.
MADAM ULANBéKOV. I've never heard that. I've never seen him drunk; but I spoke to the chief of police on his behalf, because he's my godson. I take his mother's place.
VASILíSA PEREGRíNOVNA. I know, benefactress, I know; every one knows that if you take a notion, you, my benefactress, can make a man out of mud; but if you don't take a notion to do so, he'll fall into insignificance no matter how brainy he may be. He's to blame himself, because he didn't deserve it!
MADAM ULANBéKOV. I'm sure I never did any one any harm.
VASILíSA PEREGRíNOVNA. Harm? You, who because of your angelic heart wouldn't hurt even a fly! Of course all we mortals are not without sins; you have done many things; you can't please everybody. Indeed, to tell the truth, my dear benefactress, there are people enough who complain about you.
MADAM ULANBéKOV. Who complains about me? What a lie!
VASILíSA PEREGRíNOVNA. It's impossible for you to know everything, dear benefactress. And it's not worth while for you, in your gentility, to trouble yourself about every low-lived person. And though they do complain, what's the use of paying attention; are they worth your notice? Since you do so many good deeds for others, God will forgive you, our benefactress.
MADAM ULANBéKOV. All the same, I want to know whom I have offended?
VASILíSA PEREGRíNOVNA. Well, there are some persons, benefactress.
MADAM ULANBéKOV. [_Forcibly_] But who? Speak!
VASILíSA PEREGRíNOVNA. Don't be angry, benefactress! I spoke as I did because you yourself know how touchy people are nowadays--never satisfied.
MADAM ULANBéKOV. You spoke as you did in order to cause me some unpleasantness.
VASILíSA PEREGRíNOVNA. May my eyes burst if I did.
MADAM ULANBéKOV. Well, I know you. You're never at rest in your own soul unless you're about to say something mean. You will please be more careful; otherwise you'll drive me out of patience one of these days; it'll be all the worse for you. [_Silence_] Serve the tea.
GAVRíLOVNA. Right away, mistress.
She pours out two cups. POTáPYCH hands them to MADAM ULANBéKOV and to VASILíSA PEREGRíNOVNA.
MADAM ULANBéKOV. Pour Grísha a cup, too; he went with me to-day, and he's tired out.
GAVRíLOVNA. Yes, mistress.
[She pours out a cup and hands it to GRíSHA.
GRíSHA. Why didn't you put more milk in it? Are you stingy, eh?
GAVRíLOVNA. [_Adding milk_] As it is, you're fattened on milk, like a calf.
GRíSHA _takes the cup and goes out through the door into the garden._
MADAM ULANBéKOV. I have thought of marrying NáDYA to NEGLIGéNTOV--with a decent settlement, of course. You say that he leads a bad life; consequently we must hasten the wedding. She is a girl of good principles, she'll hold him back, otherwise he'll ruin himself with his bachelor habits. Bachelor life is very bad for young men.
NáDYA. [To LíZA] Do you hear, Líza? What's this? My God!
LíZA. You just have to listen, and you can't say a word.
VASILíSA PEREGRíNOVNA. It's high time she was married, benefactress; why should she be hanging around here? And now your young son, the angel, has