The Storm

KATERINA (falling on her knees). May I never look upon my father nor my mother! May I die impenitent, if I …

KABANOV (pulling her up).

Hush! Nonsense! What wickedness is this! I won't hear you!

[Voice of Mme. Kabanova heard without, "It's time to start, Tihon!" Enter Mme. Kabanova, Varvara and Glasha.

SCENE V

The same.

MME. KABANOVA, VARVARA and GLASHA.

MME. KABANOVA. Come, Tihon, it's time now! Set off on your way in God's name! (sits down). Sit down, all of you! (All sit down. Silence.) Now, good-bye! (Gets up and all get up.)

KABANOV (going up to his mother).

Good-bye, mamma!

MME. KABANOVA (with a wave of her hand points him to the ground). At my feet! At my feet! (Kabanov bows down to her feet, then kisses his mother.) Say good-bye to your wife.

KABANOV.

Good-bye, Katia! [Katerina falls on his neck.

MME. KABANOVA. What do you want to hang on his neck like that for, shameless hussy! It's not a lover you're parting from! He's your husband—your head! Don't you know how to behave? Bow down at his feet! [Katerina bows down to his feet.

KABANOV.

Good-bye, sister (kisses Varvara). Good-bye! Glasha (kisses Glasha).

Good-bye, mamma! (bows down to the ground).

MME. KABANOVA. Good-bye! Long farewells mean foolish tears. [Kabanov goes out, after him Katerina, Varvara, and Glasha.

SCENE VI

MME. KABANOVA (alone).

MME. KABANOVA. The way young folks behave! It makes one laugh really to see them! If they weren't my own, I could laugh till I split. They don't know the way to do anything properly. Can't even take leave with decorum. A lucky thing it is for them that they have elder folk, who will keep their house together as long as they're living. And yet, the silly fools, they long to be their own masters, though when they do have their own way, they get in a mess directly to the scandal and amusement of all worthy folk. One here and there, to be sure, will be sorry for them, but for the most part they'll all laugh. No one can help laughing either; they'll invite guests, and not know how they should sit, and what's more, as likely as not, they leave out some one of their relations. It's simply comical. But the old order's passing away. There are some houses one doesn't care to go into. If you do cross the threshold, all you can do is to spit, and get away as quick as may be. What will happen when the old people are dead, how the world will go on, I really can't think. I'm thankful anyway, that I shall see nothing of it.

[Enter Katerina and Varvara.

SCENE VII

MME. KABANOVA, KATERINA, and VARVARA.

You make a boast of loving your husband so much; I see now how much your love's worth. Any other good wife, on seeing her husband off, would wail for a good hour and a half, lying on the steps; but one can see you're not much upset.

KATERINA. There's no reason to be! Besides, I don't know how to wail. Why make the people laugh!

MME. KABANOVA.

No great art is needed. If you loved him you would have learnt to do it.

If you can't wail properly, you should wail a little, if only for example.

It is always more decorous; or else one sees it is all words with you.

Well, I'm going to pray to God; do not interrupt me.

VARVARA.

I'm going out.

MME. KABANOVA (caressingly).

I've nothing against it! Go and enjoy yourself till your time comes.

You'll have sitting indoors enough later on! [Exeunt Mme. Kabanova and

Varvara.

SCENE VIII

KATERINA (alone, dreamily). Well, now, peace reigns in our house! Ah, the dreariness. If only there were children! That's the saddest thing! I have no children; I should sit with them and amuse them all day. I love talking to little children—they are angels, really. (Silence.) If I had died when I was little, it would have been better. I should have looked down on to the earth from Heaven and been delighted with everything. I should have flown unseen wherever I liked. I would have floated into the country and fluttered from flower to flower, like a butterfly. (Sinks into a reverie) I know what I will do; I will begin some piece of work, as an offering to God. I will go to the bazaar, and buy some stuff and make some clothes to give to the poor. They will remember me in their prayers. And so I'll sit sewing with Varvara, and we shall not notice how the time passes; and soon Tisha will be back.

[Enter Varvara.

SCENE IX

KATERINA and VARVARA.