Redemption and Two Other Plays | Page 8

his high ideals, his purity. It may sound strange to you, but you must believe me when I tell you that at heart he is as pure as a young girl.
LISA. I know.
SOPHIA KAR��NINA. He's never loved a woman before. You're the first. I don't say I'm not a little jealous. I am. But that's something we mothers have to face. Oh, but your son's still a baby, you don't know. I was ready to give him up, though--but I wanted his wife to be as pure as himself.
LISA (flushing hotly). And I, am I not----
SOPHIA KAR��NINA (interrupting her kindly). Forgive me, my dear. I know it's not your fault and that you've been most unhappy. And also I know my son. He will bear anything, and he'll bear it without saying a word, but his hurt pride will suffer and bring you infinite remorse. You must know how strongly he has always felt that the bond of marriage is indissoluble.
LISA. Yes. I've thought of all that.
SOPHIA KAR��NINA. Lisa, my dear, you're a wise woman and you're a good woman too. If you love him, you must want his happiness more than you want your own. You can't want to cripple him so that he'll be sorry all his life--yes, sorry even though he never says a word.
LISA. I've thought about it so much. I've thought about it and I've talked to him about it. But what can I do when he says he can't live without me? I said to him only the other day, "Victor, let's just be friends. Don't spoil your life. Don't ruin yourself by trying to help me." And do you know what he did? He laughed.
SOPHIA KAR��NINA. Of course he would, at the time.
LISA. If you could persuade him not to marry me, you know I'll agree, don't you? I just want him to be happy. I don't care about myself. Only please help me. Please don't hate me. Let's do all we can for him, because, after all, we both love him.
SOPHIA KAR��NINA. Yes, I know. And I think I love you too. I really do. (She kisses her. LISA begins to cry.) Oh, it's all so dreadful. If only he had fallen in love with you before you were married!
LISA (sobbing). He--he says he did--but he had to be loyal to his friend.
SOPHIA KAR��NINA. Alas, it's all very heart-breaking. But let us love each other, and God will help us to find what we are seeking.
KAR��NIN (entering L. I). Mother darling. I've heard what you just said. I knew you'd love her. And now everything must come right.
SOPHIA KAR��NINA (hastily). But nothing's decided. All I can say is, had things been different, I should have been very glad. (Tenderly.) So very glad.
[She kisses LISA.
KAR��NIN (smiling). Please don't change. That's all I ask.
[Lights down and out.
CURTAIN

SCENE IV
A plainly furnished room, bed, table and stove. F��DYA alone writing.
At rise MASHA is heard outside calling "F��DYA! F��DYA!" MASHA enters R. I, crosses to F��DYA on bed C. and embraces him.
F��DYA. Ah, thank Heaven you've come. I was wasting away in boredom.
MASHA. Then why didn't you come over to us? (Sees wine glass on chair near bed.) So, you've been drinking again? And after all your promises!
F��DYA (embarrassed). I didn't come over because I had no money.
MASHA. Oh, why is it I love you so.
F��DYA. Masha!
MASHA (imitating him). Masha! Masha! What's that mean? If you loved me, by now you'd have your divorce. You say you don't love your wife. (F��DYA winces.) But you stick to her like grim death.
F��DYA (interrupting her). You know why I don't want to.
MASHA. Nonsense. They're right when they say you're no good. It's your mind that you can never make up comfortably causing you all the worry.
F��DYA. You know perfectly well that the only joy I've got in life is being in love with you.
MASHA. Oh, it's always "My joy," "Your love." Where's your love and my joy?
F��DYA (a little wearily). Well, Masha, after all, you've got all I can give, the best I've ever had to give, perhaps, because you're so strong, so beautiful, that sometimes you've made me know how to make you glad. So why torture yourself?
MASHA (kneels and puts her arms around his neck). I won't if you're sure you love me.
F��DYA (coming closer to her). My beautiful young Masha.
MASHA (tearfully, searching his face). You do love me?
F��DYA. Of course, of course.
MASHA. Only me, only me?
F��DYA (kissing her). Darling, only you.
MASHA (with a return to brightness). Now read me what you've written.
F��DYA. It may bore you.
MASHA (reproachfully). How could it?
F��DYA (reads).
"The snow was flooded in moonlight and the birch trees wavered their stark shadows across it like supplicating arms. Suddenly I heard the soft padded sound of snow falling upon snow, to slowly perceive a figure,