The Power of Darkness, Leo Tolstoy [ebook reader screen .TXT] 📗

die, and I have only taken a sin on my soul. O-oh, my head, my head! Oh, why did you give me those powders? Matryóna What of the powders? The sleeping powders, lass⁠—why not give them? No evil can come of them. Anísya I am not talking of the sleeping ones, but the others, the white ones. Matryóna Well, honey, those powders are medicinal. Anísya Sighs. I know, yet it’s frightening. Though he’s worried me to death. Matryóna Well, and did you use many? Anísya I gave two doses. Matryóna Was anything noticeable? Anísya I had a taste of the tea myself⁠—just a little bitter. And he drank them with the tea and says, “Even tea disgusts me,” and I say, “Everything tastes bitter when one’s sick.” But I felt that scared, mother. Matryóna Don’t go thinking about it. The more one thinks the worse it is. Anísya I wish you’d never given them to me and led me into sin. When I think of it something seems to tear my heart. Oh dear, why did you give them to me? Matryóna What do you mean, honey? Lord help you! Why are you turning it on to me? Mind, lass, don’t go twisting matters from the sick on to the healthy. If anything were to happen, I stand aside! I know nothing! I’m aware of nothing! I’ll kiss the cross on it; I never gave you any kind of powders, never saw any, never heard of any, and never knew there were such powders. You think about yourself, lass. Why, we were talking about you the other day. “Poor thing, what torture she endures. The stepdaughter an idiot; the old man rotten, sucking her lifeblood. What wouldn’t one be ready to do in such a case!” Anísya I’m not going to deny it. A life such as mine could make one do worse than that. It could make you hang yourself or throttle him. Is this a life? Matryóna That’s just it. There’s no time to stand gaping; the money must be found one way or other, and then he must have his tea. Anísya O-oh, my head, my head! I can’t think what to do. I am so frightened; he’d better die of himself. I don’t want to have it on my soul. Matryóna Viciously. And why doesn’t he show the money? Does he mean to take it along with him? Is no one to have it? Is that right? God forbid such a sum should be lost all for nothing. Isn’t that a sin? What’s he doing? Is he worth considering? Anísya I don’t know anything. He’s worried me to death. Matryóna What is it you don’t know? The business is clear. If you make a slip now, you’ll repent it all your life. He’ll give the money to his sister and you’ll be left without. Anísya O-oh dear! Yes, and he did send for her⁠—I must go. Matryóna You wait a bit and light the samovar first. We’ll give him some tea and search him together⁠—we’ll find it, no fear. Anísya Oh dear, oh dear; supposing something were to happen. Matryóna What now? What’s the good of waiting? Do you want the money to slip from your hand when it’s just in sight? You go and do as I say. Anísya Well, I’ll go and light the samovar. Matryóna Go, honey, do the business so as not to regret it afterwards. That’s right! Anísya turns to go. Matryóna calls her back. Matryóna Just a word. Don’t tell Nikíta about the business. He’s silly. God forbid he should find out about the powders. The Lord only knows what he would do. He’s so tenderhearted. D’you know, he usen’t to be able to kill a chicken. Don’t tell him. ’Twould be a fine go, he wouldn’t understand things. Stops horror-struck as Peter appears in the doorway. Peter Holding on to the wall, creeps out into the porch and calls with a faint voice. How’s it one can’t make you hear? Oh, oh, Anísya! Who’s there? Drops on the bench. Anísya Steps from behind the corner. Why have you come out? You should have stayed where you were lying. Peter Has the girl gone for Martha? It’s very hard.⁠ ⁠… Oh, if only death would come quicker! Anísya She had no time. I sent her to the river. Wait a bit, I’ll go myself when I’m ready. Peter Send Nan. Where’s she? Oh, I’m that bad! Oh, death’s at hand! Anísya I’ve sent for her already. Peter Oh dear! Then where is she? Anísya Where’s she got to, the plague seize her! Peter Oh, dear! I can’t bear it. All my inside’s on fire. It’s as if a gimlet were boring me. Why have you left me as if I were a dog?⁠ ⁠… no one to give me a drink.⁠ ⁠… Oh⁠ ⁠… send Nan to me. Anísya Here she is. Nan, go to father. Nan runs in. Anísya goes behind the corner of the house. Peter Go you. Oh⁠ ⁠… to Aunt Martha, tell her father wants her; say she’s to come, I want her. Nan All right. Peter Wait a bit. Tell her she’s to come quick. Tell her I’m dying. O-oh! Nan I’ll just get my shawl and be off. Runs off. Matryóna Winking. Now then, mind and look sharp, lass. Go into the hut, hunt about everywhere, like a dog that’s hunting for fleas: look under everything, and I’ll search him. Anísya To Matryóna. I feel a bit bolder, somehow, now you’re here. Goes up to porch. To Peter. Hadn’t I better light the samovar? Here’s Mother Matryóna come to see her son; you’ll have a cup of tea with her? Peter Well then, light it. Anísya goes into the house. Matryóna comes up to the porch. Peter How do you do? Matryóna Bowing. How d’you do, my benefactor; how d’you do, my precious⁠ ⁠… still ill, I see. And my old man, he’s that sorry! “Go,” says he, “see how he’s getting on.” He sends his respects to you. Bows again. Peter I’m dying. Matryóna Ah yes, Peter Ignátitch, now I look