PELAGEYA EGOROVNA.  Yes, go along!  Go along!  Oh, I can’t stand it! [ARINA goes out] My head’s fairly splitting!  Nothing but sorrow—­and here comes more trouble!  Yes, yes, I’m worried to death!  Oh, oh, oh!  I’m tired out, absolutely tired out!  I’ve a lot to do, and my head’s just spinning.  I’m needed here, and I’m needed there, and I don’t know what to begin on!  Really—­yes—­[Sits and tries to think] What a husband for her!  What a husband!  Oh, oh, oh!  How can you expect her to love him!  Do you think she is hankering after his money?  She is a girl now—­in the bloom of youth—­and I suppose her heart beats now and then!  What she ought to have now is a man she can love—­even if he’s poor—­that would be life!  That would be paradise!

ANNA IVANOVNA comes in.

SCENE III

PELAGEYA EGOROVNA and ANNA IVANOVNA

PELAGEYA EGOROVNA.  Here are the keys of the tea cupboard.  Go along and pour it out for the guests, and do everything that is necessary—­you know yourself!  I’ve walked my legs off!  But you don’t mind it; you’re young yet—­yes, go and serve them.

ANNA IVANOVNA.  I’d just as soon as not.  It’s no great work; my hands won’t wear out!

PELAGEYA EGOROVNA.  There—­there’s the tea in the cupboard, in the little red caddy.

ANNA IVANOVNA unlocks the door and takes out the caddy. MITYA comes in.

SCENE IV

The same and MITYA

PELAGEYA EGOROVNA.  What do you want, Mitya dear?

MITYA. [Keeping back his tears] I—­I—­Pelageya Egorovna, for all your kindness, and for all your consideration—­even though it may be I am not worth it—­seeing that while I was an orphan—­you never deserted me—­and like a mother—­I will be thankful to you all my life, and will always pray to God for you. [Bows down to her feet.

PELAGEYA EGOROVNA.  But what are you doing, Mitya?

MITYA.  I thank you for everything.  And now good-by, Pelageya Egorovna. [Rises.

PELAGEYA EGOROVNA.  Where are you going?

MITYA.  I plan to go to my mother’s.

PELAGEYA EGOROVNA.  Are you going for long?

MITYA.  Yes, I asked the master for a vacation, and it’s most likely that
I’ll stay there for good.

PELAGEYA EGOROVNA.  But why do you wish to leave us, Mitya?

MITYA. [Hesitating] Why, I just!—­You see—­I’ve already decided.

PELAGEYA EGOROVNA.  But when are you going?

MITYA.  To-night. [Is silent] I thought to myself that I shouldn’t see you before to-night, and so I came to say good-by.

PELAGEYA EGOROVNA.  Very well, Mitya, if you are needed there—­we won’t keep you; God be with you!  Good-by!

MITYA. [Bows down to the feet of PELAGEYA EGOROVNA, exchanges kisses with her and with ANNA IVANOVNA; then bows again and waits] Might I be allowed to say good-by to Lyubov Gordeyevna?  You see we have lived in the same house—­maybe I shall die before I see her again!