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BORÍS. Why not?
PRINCESS. Because you are poor, and have nothing to give away. However,
all this is not our business. [Exit, followed by all except Nicholas
Ivánovich and Mary Ivánovna].
NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH [sits pondering, then smiles at his own thoughts]
Mary! What is all this for? Why did you invite that wretched, erring
man? Why do those noisy women and that priest come into our most
intimate life? Can we not settle our own affairs?
MARY IVÁNOVNA. What am I to do, if you want to leave the children
penniless? That is what I cannot quietly submit to. You know that I am
not grasping, and that I want nothing for myself.
NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. I know, I know and believe it. But the misfortune is
that you do not trust the truth. I know you see it, but you can't make
up your mind to rely on it. You rely neither on the truth nor on me. Yet
you trust the crowd--the Princess and the rest of them.
MARY IVÁNOVNA. I believe in you, I always did; but when you want to let
the children go begging ...
NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. That means that you do not rely on me. Do you think
I have not struggled and have not feared! But afterwards I became
convinced that this course is not only possible but obligatory, and that
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