LIZA.  What are you saying!  Why, I really thought you were coming to the master as a joke.

NADYA.  As a joke!  I can’t bear an insult!  I cannot. [Silence] Oh, Liza, if life were better, I shouldn’t have come into the garden at night.  You know how it used to be, when I would think about myself—­I suppose it must have come into your head, too—­that here you are, an honest girl; you live like a bird, suddenly you’re fascinated by some man, he makes love to you, comes to see you often, kisses you....  You’re abashed before him, yet happy to see him.  That’s the way it always is.  Although you may not be rich; although it may be you have to sit with your lover in the servants’ room; yet it is as if you were a queen, just as if every day were a holiday for you.  Then they marry you, and all congratulate you.  Well, then, no matter how hard married life may be, perhaps there may be lots of work, in spite of that you live as if in paradise; just as if you were proud of something.

LIZA.  Naturally, my girl.

NADYA.  But when they say to you:  “Pack off to this drunkard, and don’t you dare argue, and don’t you dare cry over yourself!"....  Oh, Liza!....  And then you think how that horrid man will make fun of you, will bully you, show his authority, will begin to ruin your life, all for nothing!  You grow old by his side without having a chance to live. [She weeps] It breaks your heart even to tell about it! [Waving her hand] And so, indeed, the young master is better.

LIZA.  Oh, Nadya; it would be better if you hadn’t spoken, and I hadn’t listened!

NADYA.  Stop, Liza!  Why are you playing the prude with me?  What would you do yourself if the master fell in love with you?

LIZA. [Stammering] Well, how should I know?  Of course, what shall I say.... the old Nick is strong.

NADYA.  There you are!.... [Silence] Here is what I wanted to say to you, Liza.  What a strange inspiration has come over me!  When such thoughts came into my head, and, Liza, when I began to think about the master—­then how dear he became to me!.... so dear, that, really, I can’t tell....  Before, when he ran after me, I didn’t care; but now it’s just as if something drew me to him.

LIZA.  Oh, my girl!  Just think of it; surely this is fate!

NADYA.  And such a spirit came into me, I am afraid of nothing!  I feel as if you could cut me to pieces, and still I’d not change my mind.  And why this is so, I don’t know. [Silence] I could hardly wait till night!  It seems as if I could fly to him on wings!  The one thing that I have in mind is that, at any rate, I am not a pretty girl for nothing; I shall have something by which to remember my youth. [Musingly] I thought to myself:  “What a young man, how handsome!  Am I, silly girl that I am, worth his loving me?” May I be choked here, in this lonely spot, if he does not.

LIZA.  What’s this, Nadya?  You seem beside yourself.