Four Plays | Page 8

sins.
VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. For my sins I have already been
tortured here. I mourn now the sins of others.
GAVRÍLOVNA. It would be better for you not to bother with other
people's sins. Now you're getting ready to die, yet you talk about the
sins of others. Aren't you afraid?
VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. Afraid of what? Why should I be
afraid?
GAVRÍLOVNA. Of that little black man with the hook. He's waiting
for you now, I guess.
VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. Where am I? Where am I? My God!
Just as if I were in a slough; monsters....
From the left side MADAM ULANBÉKOV, NÁDYA, LÍZA, and
GRÍSHA come in.

SCENE II
The same and MADAM ULANBÉKOV, GRÍSHA, NÁDYA, and
LÍZA.
VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. Did our benefactress deign to attend
prayer service?
MADAM ULANBÉKOV. Yes, I went to vespers in town; to-day is a
holiday there.
VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. Did you distribute generous alms
among the people present?
MADAM ULANBÉKOV. No, I only called in Pustaya Street at old
man NEGLIGÉNTOV's. He asked me to set up his nephew; you see,
the nephew is my godson. I'm sorry for these people!
VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. And you, dear soul, are a benefactress
to all. To all alike, to all! You do favors to people who aren't even
worth your looking at.
MADAM ULANBÉKOV. [_Sits down_] 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.