The Russian Masters: Works by Dostoevsky, Chekhov, Tolstoy, Pushkin, Gogol, Turgenev and More. Максим Горький
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СКАЧАТЬ (paying no attention to him)

      Lipa, I won six pair.

      LIPA

      How can you play in such heat?

      SAVVA

      Wait, I am going to put the jackstones away. I have eighteen pair now.

       Misha, the little rascal, plays well. (He goes out)

      YEGOR (rising)

      I don't want to see him any more. Tell him to get out of here at once.

      LIPA

      All right, I will.

      YEGOR

      Don't say "all right," but do what your father tells you. A fine lot of brats—that's a sure thing! Yes, yes. (Goes) If mother saw them—

      PELAGUEYA

      He speaks of mother as if he weren't the one that drove her to an early grave. He talked her to death, the old scold! He just talks and talks, and nags and nags, and he doesn't know himself what he wants.

      LIPA

      To be with you is like being caught in the wheel of a machine. My head is spinning round and round.

      PELAGUEYA

      Then why don't you go away with your Savva? What are you waiting for?

      LIPA

      Look here, why are you angry with me?

      PELAGUEYA

      I am not angry. I am telling the truth. You don't want to marry. You are disgusted with all your beaux. Why don't you go into a convent?

      LIPA

      I won't go into a convent, but I will go away from here, soon enough,

       I think.

      PELAGUEYA

      Well, go! No one is keeping you. The road is wide open.

      LIPA

      Ah, Polya, you are angry and sulky with me. You don't know how I spend my nights thinking about you. At night I lie awake and think and think about you, and about all the people that are unhappy—all of them.

      PELAGUEYA

      What do you want to think about me for? You had better think about yourself.

      LIPA

      And no one knows it. Well, what's the use of talking? You couldn't understand anyhow. I am sorry for you, Polya. (Pelagueya laughs) What's the matter?

      PELAGUEYA

      If you are sorry for me, why don't you carry out that pail? The way I am, I shouldn't be lifting heavy things. Why don't you help me, if you are so sorry for me?

      LIPA (her face darkening, then brightening again) Give it to me. (She picks up the pail and starts to carry it away)

      PELAGUEYA (spitefully)

      Hypocrite! Let go! Where are you going? (She carries out the pail and returns for the other things)

      SAVVA (entering; to his sister)

      Why is your face so red?

      LIPA

      It's hot.

       [Pelagueya laughs.

      SAVVA

      Say, Pelagueya, has Kondraty inquired for me?

      PELAGUEYA

      Kondraty! What Kondraty?

      SAVVA

      Kondraty, the friar; he looks something like a sparrow.

      PELAGUEYA

      I didn't see any Kondraty. Like a sparrow! That's a funny way of putting it.

      SAVVA

      Tell Tony to come here, won't you?

      PELAGUEYA

      Tell him yourself.

      SAVVA

      Well, well!

      PELAGUEYA (calls through the door before she goes out into the tavern) Anthony, Savva wants you.

      LIPA

      What do you want him for?

      SAVVA

      What a queer habit you have here of plying a person with questions all the time. Where, who, why, what for?

      LIPA (slightly offended)

      You needn't answer if you don't want to.

      TONY (enters, speaking slowly and with difficulty)

      Who wants me?

      SAVVA

      I am expecting Kondraty here—you know Kondraty, don't you? Send him in when he comes.

      TONY

      Who are you?

      SAVVA

      And send in two bottles of whiskey too, do you hear?

      TONY

      Maybe I do and maybe I don't. Maybe I'll send the whiskey and maybe I won't.

      SAVVA

      What a sceptic. You've grown silly, Tony.

      LIPA

      Leave him alone, Savva. He has got that from the seminary student, from Speransky. Anyhow, he is full of—

      TONY (sitting down)

      I didn't get it from anybody. I can understand everything myself. The blood has congealed in my heart.

      SAVVA

      That's from drink, Tony. Stop drinking.

      TONY

      The blood has congealed in my heart. You think I don't know what's what. A while ago you weren't here with us, and all of a sudden you came. Yes, I understand everything. I have visions.

      SAVVA

      What do you see? God?

      TONY

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