Works of Ivan Turgenev (Illustrated) (463 page)

Sozomenos [in the same position, but in a lower voice]: Absolutely nothing. [He puts his pipe in his mouth again.]

Fonk: He will bring his story to you some of these days. [Getting up and taking Vilitski a little to one side.] You see, he is quite a peculiar man. What you call an eccentric man, and that’s just what I like about him. All real writers are kind of eccentric. I confess, I am very glad over my discovery. [With pride] Che le brodeche. [Fonk expresses “je le protege” with the German accent.] Well, what are you doing, my dear Petr Ilich? How are you getting on?

Vilitski: About the same.

Fonk: You haven’t been attending to your duties these days, have you?

Vilitski: No, I haven’t. [A moment’s silence.] How did you know about it?

Fonk: Hm! Well, what do you intend to do now?

Vilitski: I’ll be frank with you, Eodion Karlych. I intended to go there to - day.

Fonk: And you will do well.

Vilitski: You understand that it cannot go on indefinitely. I am even ashamed of it. It’s laughable. Moreover, I am not altogether right. I must explain myself, and I am confident that it will all come out as well as it can.

Fonk: Surely.

Vilitski [looking around]: I’d like to have a talk with you about it.

Fonk: Well, what’s hindering you from doing it now?

Vilitski: I would like to talk to you alone. You know, it is quite a ticklish affair.

Fonk [in a low voice]: Maybe you feel a little bashful on account of Sozomenos’s presence. . . . Nonsense! Look at him. [Points to Sozomenos, who is falling asleep.] He doesn’t even notice us. His imagination isn’t like yours and mine. He may be, now, in the East, or in America, or the Lord knows where. [Takes Vilitski’s arm and they begin to pace the room.] Say what you want to say.

Vilitski [undecidedly]: You see, I really don’t know where to begin. You are showing such a friendly disposition towards me. Your advice is generally so practical, so wise. . . .

Fonk: Please, without compliments.

Vilitski [semi - audibly]: Help me, for Heaven’s sake! I am, as you must have noticed, in very trying circumstances. You know, that I am going to be married, Eodion Karlych. I have given my word for it, and, as an honest man, I am going to keep it. I have no reproaches to make to my betrothed, for she hasn’t changed one bit. I love her, and yet, — you won’t believe me, but the very thought of my wedding being so near, makes such an impression upon me, such . . . that I ask myself if I “have the right, under the present circumstances, to accept my betrothed’s hand?” or whether it wouldn’t be, on my part, deceit? What does it mean? Explain to me. Does it mean that I am afraid to lose my freedom, or something else? I can’t solve that, I confess.

Fonk: Listen, Petr Ilich. Permit me to give you my opinion on the matter, with the utmost frankness.

Vilitski: Please do, please do.
[He stops and looks at Sozomenos.] But really, I feel ashamed before Mr. — I think he is fast asleep.

Fonk: Is that so? He is. [Goes up to Sozomenos, who has fallen asleep, with his head hanging over his chest; in which position he remains all through the conversation, excepting that now and then he “catches fish.”] That’s quite interesting. [To himself.] Eine allerliebste Geschichte. [Aloud.] That happens to him quite often. What funny fel

lows these authors are! [Bending over him.] He sleeps like a log. I must say, I like that. It’s quite original.

Vilitski: Yes, it is.

Fonk: Well, now you needn’t worry about him. [Both return to the front of the stage.] And so, listen to me, my dear Petr Ilich. You want to know my opinion concerning your marriage, isn’t that right? [Vilitski nods his head.] This is a very delicate question. I’ll begin from . . . [Stops.] Well, you see, Petr Ilich, in my opinion, a man, particularly at your age, can’t live without some rules. I made some for myself at a very early age, and I have never deviated from what I call my laws. One of my main laws is: that a man must never lose himself; must always account for his behavior to himself. Now, I’ll pass over to your case. Two years ago, you made the acquaintance of Mr. Moshkin. Mr. Moshkin did several favors for you. Maybe they were quite important ones at that. . . .

Vilitski: Oh, yes, oh, yes. I am greatly indebted to him. Greatly. . . .

Fonk: I don’t doubt that at all. I don’t even doubt your appreciation. Your honorable disposition is well known to me. But here comes the question to which we must give our undivided attention. Mr. Moshkin is undoubtedly a most worthy man, but, tell me, my dear Petr Ilich, do you and he belong to the same company?

Vilitski: I am as poor as he is, — in fact poorer.

Fonk: Petr Ilich! It isn’t a question of wealth. I am talking about education, manners, and mode of life — You’ll pardon my frankness.

Vilitski: Speak! I am listening to you.

Fonk: Now . . . now concerning your bride - to - be. Tell me, Petr Ilich, do you love her?

Vilitski: I do. [After a moment’s silence] I do love her.

Fonk: You are in love with her? [Vilitski is silent.] Well, you see, my friend, love . . . surely . . . one can’t say anything against love. That’s fire; a whirlwind; a whirlpool. In a word, it’s a phenomenon. . . . Well, you can’t master it, that’s all. I, for my part, think that, even here, reason doesn’t lose its rights. But, my honest opinion in this matter cannot serve as a general rule. If you love your bride - to - be as much as you have said, then there is nothing more to be said about it. All that we may say about it will be in vain. But, it seems to me, that you are beginning to be shaky; that you are developing a doubt; and finally, that you are beginning to be uncertain about your own feelings; and that’s a very important point. At any rate, you are now in a condition, so to say, to accept friendly advice. [Takes him• by the arm.] Listen! Let us look coldly on your relationship with Maria Vasilevna. [Vilitski looks at Fonk.] Your bride is a very lovely, very amiable young lady. That can’t be denied. [Vilitski drops his eyes.] But, you know, that the best diamonds require polishing. [Vilitski looks at Sozomenos.] — Don’t bother yourself about him; he’s asleep. — It isn’t a question, whether you love your bride now, but the question is whether or not you will be happy with her. An educated man sometimes has certain inclinations which his wife cannot sympathize with. He is interested in problems, which she cannot even comprehend. Believe me, Petr Ilich, equality is very important in married life. Let me tell you what I mean: I do not admit, for a minute, that false equality between husband and wife about which the self - styled Prophets. . . . No, a wife must blindly obey her husband, blindly. You understand that I am talking about a different kind of equality?

Vilitski: That is so. I fully agree with all that you have said. But, my dear Rodion Karlych, put yourself in my place. How could you expect me, now, at this time, to break my word? Just think of it! My refusal to stick to my word would kill Maria Vasilevna. She has trusted me, like a child. I may say, that I have brought her out in the world. I discovered her and I proposed to her. Now, I must carry it out to the end. How could you expect me to avoid that responsibility? You would be the first one to despise me for it.

Fonk: Wait a minute, wait a minute! I am not quite ready to justify you. Your arguments can be easily refuted. In my opinion, there are two kinds of obligations: The obligation to others, and the obligation to yourself. What right have you to spoil your own life; to ruin it? You are young; you are in the bloom of life, so to say. You are in the public eye, and very likely an illustrious career is awaiting you. Why do you want to throw away such a good chance; such a good beginning?

Vilitski: Why throw away, Rodion Karlych? Couldn’t I continue my career . . .

Fonk: Surely, you could, though married, continue to work; nobody doubts that. Moreover, Petr Ilich, everything may be reached in time. But who wouldn’t consider the shortest road the best? Assiduity, zeal, punctuality, — these qualities do not remain unrewarded, that’s true. Good abilities are also useful to an official. They all draw the attention of the superiors. But connections, Petr Ilich, good connections and good acquaintances are very important in this world. I have already told you about my rule to avoid getting acquainted with the people of the lower classes. From this rule, logically follows another rule: Get ac

quainted with as many people of the upper classes, as you can. And that isn’t very hard to do. In society, Petr Ilich, people are always ready to accept an official, who is active, modest, and has a good education. And once having been accepted in good society, he has good chances to make a better marriage, especially, when he is a bachelor, and has absolutely no family ties.

Vilitski: I quite agree with you, Eodion Karlych. But my ambition doesn’t run in that direction. I am afraid of society and I am perfectly willing to spend my life at the family hearth. Moreover, I do not admit that I have such great abilities. But devotion in an official, as you have said, does not remain unrewarded. Other thoughts are worrying me. It seems to me, that I am morally obliged . . . nay, more, I cannot even think of breaking our betrothal, without feeling some terror. And yet, the wedding frightens me so, that I cannot decide what to do.

Fonk [seriously]: I fully appreciate your mental attitude. It isn’t as unintelligible as you think. You see, Petr Ilich, this is the transition period. It is, so to say, the crisis; understand what I say, the crisis. If you could get away from here now, for a month at least, I am sure that you would return an entirely different man. Then, if you would call the full strength of your character to your assistance, the matter would be settled.

Vilitski [looking at him]: Do you think so? But how about Masha, Eodion Karlych, how about Majha? My conscience would torment me
           

Fonk: That, of course, is a disagreeable feature. I sympathize with you. But what can be done?

Vilitski: I am a hideous fellow, a hideous man!

Fonk [severely]: Why do you use such words? Permit me to remark, that’s childish. You will pardon me, but the sincere interest which I take in you . . . [Vilitski presses his hand warmly.] Surely, it will be hard at first, for Maria Vasilevna; it’s possible that her sadness will last for quite a while. But let us look at it in a cold light. You are not as guilty as you think you are. Your betrothed, on her part, ought to be thankful to you. You gave your hand to her, and took her out of the darkness; you awakened her dormant abilities; you started her education; in fact, you have done even more than that, for you awakened her hopes, otherwise impossible — Admitting that you have deceived her a little, you have deceived yourself more. You, I repeat, did not pretend to be in love with her; you did not deceive her purposely.

Vilitski [passionately]: No, never, never!

Fonk: Then why do you worry about it? Why do you reproach yourself for it? Believe me, my dear Petr Ilich, that up to now, you have done nothing but good for Maria Vasilevna.

Vilitski: My Heavens! But what shall I do? [Fonk looks at him silently.] You, yourself, will despise me.

Fonk: On the contrary, I will pity you.

Vilitski: But I assure you, Eodion Karlych, that I will still find strength enough in me to get out of this predicament. I am very much obliged to you for your advice. I don’t think, though, that I can agree with you in everything. I cannot accept all your conclusions. I still cannot see any necessity for changing my own decision, but
      

Fonk: I don’t ask you to do that, Petr Ilich. Think your condition over, yourself.