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NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. Who told you that?
ALEXÁNDRA IVÁNOVNA. Well, just you try and explain it to her! She will
never understand, nor shall I, nor anyone else in the world, that one
must care for other people and abandon one's own children. Go and try to
explain that to Mary!
NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. Yes, and Mary will certainly understand. Forgive me,
Alexándra, but if it were not for other people's influence, to which she
is very susceptible, she would understand me and go with me.
ALEXÁNDRA IVÁNOVNA. To beggar your children for the sake of drunken
Yefím and his sort? Never! But if I have made you angry, please forgive
me. I can't help speaking out.
NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. I am not angry. On the contrary, I am even glad you
have spoken out and given me the opportunity--challenged me--to explain
to Mary my whole outlook on life. On my way home to-day I was thinking
of doing so, and I will speak to her at once; and you will see that she
will agree, because she is wise and good.
ALEXÁNDRA IVÁNOVNA. Well, as to that, allow me to have my doubts.
NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. But I have no doubts. For you know, this is not any
invention of my own; it is only what we all of us know, and what Christ
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