Mme Ogudalov goes off.
Larisa (to Vozhevatov). Good-bye, Vasya!
Vozhevatov and Knurov leave. Larisa approaches Karandyshov.
Larisa. Just now I was looking across the Volga. How nice it is on the other side! Let’s go to the country as soon as we can!
Karandyshov. You were looking across the Volga? And what was Vozhevatov talking with you about?
Larisa. Nothing really, just little things. I want so much to go to the other side of the Volga, into the woods… (Thoughtfully.) Let’s go, let’s leave here!
Karandyshov. But it’s so strange! What could he have to talk with you about?
Larisa. Well, whatever he talked about, what business is it of yours?
Karandyshov. You call him Vasya. Why so familiar with a young man?
Larisa. We’ve known each other since childhood. When we were little we played together. So I’ve gotten used to calling him that.
Karandyshov. You’ll have to throw off your old habits. There’s no reason to be friends with a shallow and stupid boy. It’s not possible to tolerate the sort of life you’ve had so far.
Larisa (offended). There hasn’t been anything bad in our life.
Karandyshov. It’s been a gypsy camp, miss, that’s what it’s been. (Larisa wipes away some tears.) But why are you so offended!
Larisa. So maybe it has been a gypsy camp, but at least it’s been fun. Will you be able to give me something better than this camp?
Karandyshov. Of course.
Larisa. Why do you keep on reproaching me with it? Do you really think I’ve liked our kind of life? Mama told me how she wanted things, and so, whether I wanted to or not, I had to lead that kind of life. Throwing this gypsy life at me all the time is either stupid or heartless. If I weren’t looking for quiet and solitude, I wouldn’t be wanting to run away from people, and would I really be marrying you? So try to understand that and don’t go assigning my choice to your virtues, I don’t see them yet. I still only want to fall in love with you; I’m drawn to the quiet family life, it looks like some kind of heaven. You can see I’m standing at the crossroads, so give me support, I need encouragement and sympathy. Deal with me tenderly, with affection. Seize these moments, don’t let them pass.
Karandyshov. Larisa Dmitriyevna, I didn’t mean to offend you at all, somehow the words just came to my tongue…
Larisa. What is that “somehow”? You mean you weren’t thinking, that you didn’t understand your words might be offensive?
Karandyshov. Exactly, I did it without any intent.
Larisa. That makes it even worse. You should think about what you say. Chatter away with others if you like, but with me speak more carefully. Can’t you see my position is very serious! I feel every word I say and hear. I’ve become very sensitive and impressionable.
Karandyshov. In that case please forgive me.
Larisa. All right, only in the future be more careful. (Thoughtfully.) Gypsy camp… Yes, that’s true… but in that camp have been some good and noble people.
Karandyshov. What noble people? You don’t perhaps mean Sergey Sergeyich Paratov?
Larisa. No, please, don’t speak of him.
Karandyshov. And why not?
Larisa. You don’t know him, and even if you did know him, well… forgive me, but it’s not for you to pass judgment on him.
Karandyshov. People are judged by their actions. Do you think he acted well with you?
Larisa. That’s my affair. If I’m afraid to, if I don’t dare to pass judgment on him, then I’m not going to let you do it.
Karandyshov. Larisa Dmitriyevna, tell me something. Only please, speak frankly.
Larisa. What is it?
Karandyshov. How am I any worse than Paratov?
Larisa. Oh no, don’t ask that!
Karandyshov. But why not?
Larisa. Better not, better not! How can there be any comparison!
Karandyshov. That’s what I’d like to hear from you.
Larisa. Don’t ask, there’s no need!
Karandyshov. But why not?
Larisa. Because the comparison will not be to your advantage. By yourself you have value, you’re a good and honest man. But in comparison with Sergey Sergeyich you lose everything.
Karandyshov. But those are just words, we need proof. Give him and me a real analysis.
Larisa. Do you know the man you’re comparing yourself with! How can you be so blind! Sergey Sergeyich… is the ideal man. Do you understand what ideal is? Maybe I’m wrong, I’m still young and don’t know people, but it will be impossible to change this opinion in me, it will die with me.
Karandyshov. I just can’t understand what’s so special about him, I don’t see anything. There’s a certain boldness, an impudence. But anybody can have that if he wants.
Larisa. And do you know what boldness is?
Karandyshov. Whatever it is, what’s so wonderful about it? All it takes is putting on airs.
Larisa. To show what it is I’ll tell you something that happened. There was an officer from the Caucasus passing through here, an acquaintance of Sergey Sergeyich, and he was a wonderful shot. They were both at our place, and Sergey Sergeyich says to him, “I hear you’re a wonderful shot.” “Yes, not bad,” says the officer. Sergey Sergeyich gives him a pistol, puts a glass on his own head, and he goes off to another room, about twelve steps away. “Shoot,” he says.
Karandyshov. And he shot?
Larisa. He shot, and, of course, he knocked off the glass, only he turned a little pale. Sergey Sergeyich says, “You shoot beautifully, but you turned pale, and you were shooting at a man, and a man not close to you. Look, I’m going to shoot at a young woman who’s dearer to me than anything in the world, and I won’t turn pale.” He gives me a coin to hold, and, with indifference and a smile, he shoots from the same distance and hits it.
Karandyshov. And you obeyed him?
Larisa. How could I do anything else?
Karandyshov. You really had so much confidence in him?
Larisa. How can you ask! How could I not have confidence in him?
Karandyshov. He has no heart, that’s why he’s so bold.
Larisa. No, he has a heart too. I saw myself how he helped the poor, how he gave away all the money he had on him.
Karandyshov. So, let’s grant that Paratov has some virtues, at least in your eyes, but what about this petty merchant, this Vasya of yours?
Larisa. You’re not being jealous, are you? No, you stop all this nonsense. It’s degrading, and I won’t tolerate it, I’m telling you in advance. Don’t worry, I’m not in love with anybody, and I won’t fall in love with anybody.
Karandyshov. But