Free Ivanov by ANTON CHEKHOV Page B

last. I yearned for active love, but honestly this is love for martyrs.
    Ivanov And when you’re my wife, it’ll get worse. So break it off! It’s only your misplaced sense of loyalty that’s stopping you. Do you see?
    Sasha What a desperate and illogical argument. I love you. You have no one – no mother, no sisters, no friends. You’re ruined, your estate has been eaten away, everyone around you is saying horrible things about you . . . and you expect me to give you up? How can I?
    Ivanov ( aside )I should never have come here. I should have done it my own way.
    Ivanov takes a revolver from his pocket. Nobody sees this because Sasha has turned towards Lebedev’s entrance.
    Sasha ( runs to meet him )Papa – Oh, God – he came bursting in here like a lunatic, torturing the life out of me! He wants me to break it off – he says he doesn’t want to ruin me. Tell him I don’t want his selfless gestures! I know what I’m doing.
    Ivanov puts the gun back into his pocket.
    Lebedev Idon’t understand anything . . . What selfless gestures?
    Ivanov There isn’t going to be any wedding!
    Sasha Yes, there is! Tell him, Papa!
    Lebedev Wait a moment, wait . . . Why don’t you want there to be a wedding?
    Ivanov I’ve told her why. She refuses to understand me.
    Lebedev No, don’t tell her, tell me. And explain it so I can understand it. Honestly, Nikolay, you turn life into a sort of modern art gallery – I look at things and don’t know what to make of them . . . It’s a punishment for something. Well, what’s an old fellow like me supposed to do about you? Challenge you to a duel or what?
    Ivanov A duel won’t be necessary.
    Sasha ( walks up and down the stage in agitation )Oh, it’s all so dreadful! – He’s like a child.
    Lebedev I’m throwing in my hand. Listen Nikolay, to you this is all very ‘psychological’ and intellectual, but to me it’s just bad behaviour and you’re causing a scandal,so for the last time, listen to an old man. I’ve got one thing to say, which is this: calm down and see things as others see them. In this world, things are very simple. The ceiling is white, boots are black, sugar is sweet, you love Sasha, Sasha loves you. If you love her, marry her. If you don’t, don’t, and no hard feelings. See how simple? You’ve both got your health, you’re intelligent, decent people, you’re not starving, you’ve got clothes on your back. What more do you need? Money? Money doesn’t make you happy. Of course, your estate is mortgaged and you can’t keep up the payments, but – well, I’m her father and I’m on your side – her mother can do as she likes, if she won’t give you the money that’s up to her – Sasha says she doesn’t want a dowry – it’s all about principles and Schopenhauer – rubbish if you ask me – but I’ve got my own private ten thousand in the bank from Granny. ( Looks round. )Not a soul knows about it . . . so it’s yours. Take it. Only one thing, promise to give Matvey a thousand or two . . .
    Ivanov Pasha, you talk far too much. I’m doing what I think is right.
    Sasha So am I! I don’t care what you say, I’m not letting you go. Papa – it’s time for the blessing! – I’m going to get Mama.
    She leaves the room.
    Lebedev Modern art again.
    Ivanov Listen, my old friend . . . I’m not going to try to explain myself to you – whether I’m straight or devious, sick or sane, you wouldn’t take it in. But once I was young, up for anything, sincere, intelligent.
    Lebedev Yes, you said.
    Ivanov Iloved, hated, believed – not along with the crowd, I was my own man, and I worked like ten menwith enough optimism for all of them, tilting at windmills, knocking through walls with my head –
    Lebedev You said, Nicky.
    Ivanov – and Idid it all unmindful of my strength or –
    Lebedev – weakness.
    Ivanov – weakness, not thinking, knowing nothing about life, I took the weight. And it wasn’t long before my back gave way –
    Lebedev