ng it ourselves; we are marrying her off
ourselves! Only it's not with my consent, Mitya! If I had my way, do you
think I'd give her up? Do you think I'm her enemy?

MITYA. He's a man--from what I hear--not a very great catch! There's
nothing good to be heard of him--except what's bad.

PELAGEYA EGOROVNA. I know, Mitya dear, I know.

MITYA. Well, from all accounts, I must say this, that most likely Lyubov
Gordeyevna, married to such a man, and living far away from you, will
absolutely perish--no doubt of it.

PELAGEYA EGOROVNA. Oh, don't speak of it to me, don't speak of it! I'm
distracted enough about it without your saying anything. I've worn my eyes
out with gazing at her! If I could only look at her enough to last me
forever! It's as if I were getting ready to bury her.

MITYA. [Nearly weeping] How can such things happen? How can people do such
things? She's your own daughter, I suppose!

PELAGEYA EGOROVNA. If she weren't my own, then I shouldn't be weeping and
wailing, and my heart wouldn't be breaking over her tears.

MITYA. Why weep? It would be better not to marry her. Why are you ruining
the girl's life, and giving her into slavery? Isn't this a sin? You will
have to answer for it to God.

PELAGEYA EGOROVNA. I know, I know it all, but I tell you, Mitya, it's
not my doing. Why do you keep on blaming me? It's horrible enough for me
without your talking about it, and you stir me up still more. Mitya, you
should pity me!

MITYA. It's true, Pelageya Egorovna, but I can't endure this sorrow. Maybe
it's worse for me than for you! I trust you so much, Pelageya Egorovna,
that I will open my heart to you as if you were my own mother. [_Dries his
eyes with his handkerchief_] Yesterday evening, when you were having the
evening party. [_Tears prevent him from speaking_]

PELAGEYA EGOROVNA. Well, well, tell me, tell me!

MITYA. Well, then, she and I made a compact in the dark, that we would go
together to you and to Gordey Karpych, and beg you humbly; we were going to
say: "Give us your blessing; we cannot live without each other any longer."
[_Dries his tears_] And now suddenly, this morning, I heard--and my arms
just dropped by my side!

PELAGEYA EGOROVNA. What are you saying?

MITYA. I swear it, Pelageya Egorovna, in the name of the Lord!

PELAGEYA EGOROVNA. Oh, my dear boy! What a luck-less lad you are, now that
I know all!

_LYUBOV GORDEYEVNA comes in._

SCENE VI

The same and LYUBOV GORDEYEVNA