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is not my own, but that I am sent into the world to do the will of
God ...
MARY IVÁNOVNA. But what of it? We all know that!
NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. Well, if we know it we cannot go on living as we are
doing, for our whole life--far from being a fulfilment of His will--is,
on the contrary, a continual transgression of it.
MARY IVÁNOVNA. But how is it a transgression--when we live without doing
harm to anyone?
NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. But are we doing no harm? Such an outlook on life is
just like that of those labourers. Why we ...
MARY IVÁNOVNA. Yes, I know the parable--and that he paid them all
equally.
NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH [after a pause] No, it's not that. But do, Mary,
consider one thing--that we have only one life, and can live it well, or
can waste it.
MARY IVÁNOVNA. I can't think and argue! I don't sleep at night; I am
nursing. I have to manage the whole house, and instead of helping me,
you say things to me that I don't understand.
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