The Storm

KULIGIN That's our town all over, sir! Here they've made a parade, but they don't walk there. They only walk out on fête days, and then they only make a show of being out for a walk. They really come out to show off their best clothes. You never meet anyone but maybe a drunken attorney's clerk reeling home from the tavern. The poor have no time, sir, to walk out; they must work and worry day and night. Three hours' sleep is all they get out of the twenty-four. But what are the rich about? You'd wonder why they shouldn't walk about and enjoy the fresh air. But not a bit of it! They've all had their gates, sir, locked up long ago, and their dogs let loose. … Do you suppose they are at work at their business, or praying to God? No, sir! And it's not for fear of thieves they lock themselves up; it's that folks shouldn't see the way they ill-treat their household, and bully their families. And the tears that flow behind those bolts, unseen, unheard of! But there's no need to tell you that, sir! You can judge of it for yourself. And the sordid sodden vice within those barred gates, sir! And all hidden and buried—no one sees or knows anything of it, God alone beholds it! Stare at me as you like, say they, in the street and among folk, but you've nothing to do with my family; that's what I have locks for, and bolts and bars and savage dogs. The family's something apart, secret! We know all about such secrets!—secrets, sir, that make one man merry, perhaps, while the rest are weeping and wailing. Much secrecy about it! Everyone knows! Robbing their orphans, kinsfolk, nephews, beating their dependents till they're too cowed to hint at what goes on within doors,—there's no great secret in that! But that's enough of them! Do you know, sir, who do go for walks here? The young fellows and girls. They steal an hour or two from sleep and walk out in couples. There's a couple over there!

[Kudriash and Varvara are seen. They kiss.

BORIS.

They are kissing.

KULIGIN.

We don't think much of that.

   [Kudriash goes off, and Varvara goes towards her own gate and beckons

Boris, he goes up to her.

SCENE IV

BORIS, KULIGIN and VARVARA.

KULIGIN.

I'll go to the parade, sir. I'm in your way. I'll wait for you there.

BORIS.

Very well, I'll come directly.

VARVARA (hiding her face in her kerchief).

Do you know the hollow behind the Kabanovs' garden?

BORIS.

Yes.

VARVARA.

You come there a little later on.

BORIS.

What for?

VARVARA.

How stupid you are! Come; then you'll see what for. Well, you'd better

make haste now, since that person's waiting for you. (Boris goes.)

There, he didn't know me! Well, now let him wonder, I know very well that

Katerina won't hold out, she'll run out to see him. [Goes in at the gate.

Curtain.

SCENE V

The scene changes.

A hollow dell covered with bushes; at the top of it the Kabanovs' garden and a gate; a path leading down from it.

(Kudriash enters with a, guitar.)

KUDRIASH. No one. What is she up to? Well, I'll sit and wait for her. (Seats himself on a stone) This is slow; I'll sing a song (sings).

  As the Don Cossack, the Cossack, leads his horse to drink,

  The brave young man, he stands at the gate,

  At the gate he stands, and ponders in his heart,

  In his heart he ponders, how he will slay his wife.

  And the wife, the wife besought him,

  Falling down at his swift feet;

  Master, friend of my heart, I pray thee,

  Strike me not, slay me not in the evening!

  But kill me, slay me after midnight!

  Let my little children be asleep,

  My little children, and all my good neighbours. [Enter Boris.

SCENE VI

KUDRIASH and BORIS.

KUDRIASH (stops singing). Hullo! Such a sober, staid person as you, out on the spree too?

BORIS.

Kudriash, is that you?

KUDRIASH.

It is, Boris Grigoritch.

BORIS.

What are you here for?

KUDRIASH. What for? I suppose because I want to be here, Boris Grigoritch, since I am here. I shouldn't have come if I hadn't wanted to. Where is fortune taking you?

BORIS (looking carefully at the scene around him). Look here, Kudriash, I've got to stop here, and I've no doubt it's all the same to you, so you might go and sit in some other place.

KUDRIASH. No, Boris Grigoritch, you're here, I perceive, for the first time, but this is a place where I have often sat, and this little path has been trodden by my feet. I like you, sir, and am ready to do you any service; but you'll kindly refrain from meeting me in this path at night, lest evil come of it. Fair words are better than gold.

BORIS.

What is the matter with you, Vania?