PELAGEYA EGOROVNA.  What are you saying?

MITYA.  I swear it, Pelageya Egorovna, in the name of the Lord!

PELAGEYA EGOROVNA.  Oh, my dear boy!  What a luck-less lad you are, now that
I know all!

LYUBOV GORDEYEVNA comes in.

SCENE VI

The same and LYUBOV GORDEYEVNA

PELAGEYA EGOROVNA.  Here, Lyubov dear!  Mitya has come to say good-by; he is going away from here to his mother’s.

MITYA. [Bows] Good-by, Lyubov Gordeyevna!  Don’t bear me any ill will!

LYUBOV GORDEYEVNA.  Good-by, Mitya! [Bows]

PELAGEYA EGOROVNA.  Kiss each other good-by; it may be that God will not let you see each other again.  Well, never mind! [MITYA and LYUBOV GORDEYEVNA kiss each other; she seats herself on the sofa and weeps; MITYA also weeps] Stop, stop your weeping! you will drive me wild!

MITYA.  Oh, I’ll risk everything now; everything in the world! [Goes to PELAGEYA EGOROVNA] Pelageya Egorovna, are you sorry to marry your daughter to an old man, or not?

PELAGEYA EGOROVNA.  If I weren’t sorry, I shouldn’t be crying.

MITYA.  Will you permit me to speak, Pelageya Egorovna?

PELAGEYA EGOROVNA.  Speak!

MITYA.  This is what I have to say:  Get her ready and put on her warm clothes.  Let her slip out quietly; I’ll seat her in my fairy sleigh, and that’s the last of us.  Then the old man will never see her any more than his own ears!  And no matter if I do go to ruin!  I will take her to my mother and there we will get married.  Oh, just give us a chance!  I want some joy in life!  At any rate, if I have to pay the price, at least I shall know that I’ve really lived.

PELAGEYA EGOROVNA.  What do you mean?  What do you mean, you scamp?

LYUBOV GORDEYEVNA.  What an idea, Mitya!

MITYA.  So you don’t love me?  Or have you ceased to love me?

LYUBOV GORDEYEVNA.  What you say is dreadful!

PELAGEYA EGOROVNA.  What an idea, you scamp!  Who would dare to take such a sin on his soul?  Yes, come to your senses!  What are you thinking of?

MITYA.  Why, I said if you’re sorry!  But if you’re not sorry—­then give her to Afrikan Savvich; sell her into slavery forever and ever.  You’ll be miserable yourselves when you see her wretched life; you’ll come to your senses, you and Gordey Karpych, but then it will be too late.

PELAGEYA EGOROVNA.  But how could you, without her father’s blessing?  How could you?  Judge for yourself!

MITYA.  Certainly, how could we live without a blessing!  Then you bless us, Pelageya Egorovna. [Kneels down] and Gordey Karpych, it may be—­himself, in time—­somehow—–­

PELAGEYA EGOROVNA.  What can I say to you?  I feel altogether distracted.—­Yes, I’m going out of my mind!  I don’t know anything!  I don’t remember anything!  Yes, yes, my head spins.  Oh, my darlings, my heart is torn!