Page:Plays by Anton Tchekoff (1916).djvu/132

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that you are a bloodthirsty murderer, a monster of cruelty, a robber.

. All that is nothing to me; my head is aching.

. Because you think so much.

. I never think.

. Come, Nicholas, snap your fingers at the whole thing, and drive over to visit us. Sasha loves and understands you. She is a sweet, honest, lovely girl; too good to be the child of her mother and me! Sometimes, when I look at her, I cannot believe that such a treasure could belong to a fat old drunkard like me. Go to her, talk to her, and let her cheer you. She is a good, true-hearted girl.

. Paul, my dear friend, please go, and leave me alone.

. I understand, I understand! [He glances at his watch] Yes, I understand. [He kisses ] Good-bye, I must go to the blessing of the school now. [He goes as far as the door, then stops] She is so clever! Sasha and I were talking about gossiping yesterday, and she flashed out this epigram: “Father,” she said, “fire-flies shine at night so that the night-birds may make them their prey, and good people are made to be preyed upon by gossips and slanderers.” What do you think of that? She is a genius, another George Sand!

. [Stopping him as he goes out] Paul, what is the matter with me?

. I have wanted to ask you that myself, but I must confess I was ashamed to. I don’t know, old chap. Sometimes I think your troubles have been too heavy for you, and yet I know you are not the kind to give in to them; you would not be overcome by misfortune. It must be something else, Nicholas, but what it may be I can’t imagine.

. I can’t imagine either what the matter is, unless—and yet no— [A pause] Well, do you see, this is what I