From the corridor outside hysterical weeping is heard. A Lunatic rushes in, followed by Warders who drag him out again.

LYuBA. How terrible! And you will be kept here? [Weeps].

BORiS. I am not afraid of it, I'm afraid of nothing now! I feel so happy, the only thing I fear is what you feel about it. Do help me; I am sure you will!

LYuBA. Can I be glad about it?

NICHOLAS IVaNOVICH. Not glad, that is impossible. I myself am not glad.

I suffer on his account and would gladly take his place, but though I suffer I yet know that it is well.

LYuBA. It may be well; but when will they set him free?

BORiS. No one knows. I do not think of the future. The present is so good, and you can make it still better.

Enter the Princess, his mother.

PRINCESS. I can wait no longer! [To Nicholas Ivanovich] Well, have you persuaded him? Does he agree? Borya, my darling, you understand, don't you, what I suffer? For thirty years I have lived but for you; rearing you, rejoicing in you. And now when everything has been done and is complete--you suddenly renounce everything. Prison and disgrace! Oh no!

Borya!

BORiS. Mamma! Listen to me.

PRINCESS [to Nicholas Ivanovich] Why do you say nothing? You have ruined him, it is for you to persuade him. It's all very well for you! Lyuba, do speak to him!

LYuBA. I cannot!

BORiS. Mamma, do understand that there are things that are as impossible as flying; and I cannot serve in the army.

PRINCESS. You think that you can't! Nonsense. Everybody has served and does serve. You and Nicholas Ivanovich have invented some new sort of Christianity which is not Christianity, but a devilish doctrine to make everybody suffer!

BORiS. As is said in the Gospels!

PRINCESS. Nothing of the kind, or if it is, then all the same it is stupid. Darling, Borya, have pity on me. [Throws herself on his neck, weeps] My whole life has been nothing but sorrow. There was but one ray of joy, and you are turning it into torture. Borya--have pity on me!

BORiS. Mamma, this is terribly hard on me. But I cannot explain it to you.

PRINCESS. Come now, don't refuse--say you will serve!

NICHOLAS IVaNOVICH. Say you will think it over--and do think it over.

BORiS. Very well then. But you too, Mamma, should have pity on me. It is hard on me too. [Cries are again heard from the corridor]. You know I'm in a lunatic asylum, and might really go mad.

Enter Head Doctor.

HEAD DOCTOR. Madam, this may have very bad consequences. Your son is in a highly excited condition. I think we must put an end to this interview. You may call on visiting days--Thursdays and Sundays. Please come to see him before twelve o'clock.

PRINCESS. Very well, very well, I will go. Borya, good-bye! Think it over. Have pity on me and meet me next Thursday with good news!

NICHOLAS IVaNOVICH [shaking hands with Boris] Think it over with G.o.d's help, and as if you knew you were to die to-morrow. Only so will you decide rightly. Good-bye.

BORiS [approaching Lyuba] And what do you say to me?

LYuBA. I cannot lie; and I do not understand why you should torment yourself and everybody. I do not understand--and can say nothing. [Goes out weeping. Exeunt all except Boris].

BORiS [alone] Oh how hard it is! Oh, how hard, Lord help me! [Prays].

Enter Warders with dressing-gown.

WARDER. Please change.

Boris puts on dressing-gown.

Curtain.

ACT IV

SCENE 1

In Moscow a year later. A drawing-room in the Sarntsov's town house is prepared for a dance. Footmen are arranging plants round the grand piano. Enter Mary Ivanovna in an elegant silk dress, with Alexandra Ivanovna.

MARY IVaNOVNA. A ball? No, Only a dance! A "Juvenile Party" as they once used to say. My children took part in the Theatricals at the Makofs, and have been asked to dances everywhere, so I must return the invitations.

ALEXaNDRA IVaNOVNA. I am afraid Nicholas does not like it.

MARY IVaNOVNA. I can't help it. [To Footmen] Put it here! [To Alexandra Ivanovna] G.o.d knows how glad I should be not to cause him unpleasantness. But I think he has become much less exacting.

ALEXaNDRA IVaNOVNA. No, no! Only he does not show it so much. I saw how upset he was when he went off to his own room after dinner.

MARY IVaNOVNA. What can I do? After all, people must live. We have seven children, and if they find no amus.e.m.e.nt at home, heaven knows what they may be up to. Anyhow I am quite happy about Lyuba now.

ALEXaNDRA IVaNOVNA. Has he proposed, then?

MARY IVaNOVNA. As good as proposed. He has spoken to her, and she has said, Yes!

ALEXaNDRA IVaNOVNA. That again will be a terrible blow to Nicholas.

MARY IVaNOVNA. Oh, he knows. He can't help knowing.

ALEXaNDRA IVaNOVNA. He does not like him.

MARY IVaNOVNA [to the Footmen] Put the fruit on the side-board. Like whom? Alexander Mikaylovich? Of course not; because he is a living negation of all Nicholas's pet theories. A nice pleasant kindly man of the world. But oh! That terrible night-mare--that affair of Boris Cheremshanov's. What has happened to him?

ALEXaNDRA IVaNOVNA. Lisa has been to see him. He is still there. She says he has grown terribly thin, and the Doctors fear for his life or his reason.