Texts
Book 8 References
You shameless good-for-nothing! said she. I won’t hear a word.
Disgusting, abominable... In my house... horrid girl, hussy! I’m only sorry for her father! thought she, trying to restrain her wrath.
A nice girl! Very nice! said Márya Dmítrievna. Arranging meetings with lovers in my house! It’s no use pretending: you listen when I speak to you! And Márya Dmítrievna touched her arm. Listen when I speak! You’ve disgraced yourself like the lowest of hussies. I’d treat you differently, but I’m sorry for your father, so I will conceal it.
Natásha did not change her position, but her whole body heaved with noiseless, convulsive sobs which choked her.
It’s lucky for him that he escaped me; but I’ll find him! she said in her rough voice. Do you hear what I am saying or not? she added.
She put her large hand under Natásha’s face and turned it toward her.
Let me be!... What is it to me?... I shall die! she muttered, wrenching herself from Márya Dmítrievna’s hands with a vicious effort and sinking down again into her former position.
But when your father comes back tomorrow what am I to tell him? Eh? Again Natásha’s body shook with sobs. Suppose he finds out, and your brother, and your betrothed?
I have no betrothed: I have refused him! cried Natásha. That’s all the same, continued Márya Dmítrievna. If they hear of this, will they let it pass? He, your father, I know him... if he challenges him to a duel will that be all right? Eh? Oh, let me be! Why have you interfered at all? Why? Why? Who asked you to? shouted Natásha, raising herself on the sofa and looking malignantly at Márya Dmítrievna.
But what did you want? cried Márya Dmítrievna, growing angry again. Were you kept under lock and key? Who hindered his coming to the house? Why carry you off as if you were some gypsy singing girl?... Well, if he had carried you off... do you think they wouldn’t have found him? Your father, or brother, or your betrothed? And he’s a scoundrel, a wretch—that’s a fact! He is better than any of you! exclaimed Natásha getting up. If you hadn’t interfered... Oh, my God! What is it all? What is it? Sónya, why?... Go away!
And she burst into sobs with the despairing vehemence with which people bewail disasters they feel they have themselves occasioned. Márya Dmítrievna was to speak again but Natásha cried out: Go away! Go away! You all hate and despise me! and she threw herself back on the sofa.
Márya Dmítrievna put a pillow under her head, covered her with two quilts, and herself brought her some lime-flower water, but Natásha did not respond to her.
Well, let her sleep, said Márya Dmítrievna as she went out of the room supposing Natásha to be asleep.
But Natásha was not asleep; with pale face and fixed wide-open eyes she looked straight before her. All that night she did not sleep or weep and did not speak to Sónya who got up and went to her several times.
With compressed and parched lips and dry fixed eyes, she sat at the window, uneasily watching the people who drove past and hurriedly glancing round at anyone who entered the room. She was evidently expecting news of him and that he would come or would write to her.
In My House
Featured Characters: MARYA D, NATASHA, SONYA
[MARYA D]
You shameless good-for-nothing
You vile, shameless girl
In my house
In my house
A nice girl! Very nice!
[MARYA D]
You dirty nasty wench of a thing
Now don’t you say one word
In my house
In my house
Horrid girl,
hussy!
It’s lucky for him he escaped, but I’ll find him
Now you listen to me when I speak to you!
Now you
listen to me when I speak to you!
In my house!
In my house!
Do you hear what I am saying or not?
[SONYA]
Natasha’s whole body shook
With
noiseless, convulsive sobs
Marya touched her hand to her
face
[NATASHA]
Don’t touch me!
Let me be! What is it to me? I shall die!
[MARYA D]
What are we to tell your father? Eh?
In my house!
In my house!
What are we to tell Prince Andrey? Eh?
Oh what do we
tell your betrothed?
[NATASHA]
I have no betrothed, I have refused him!
[SONYA]
Natasha, come here, kiss me
Press your wet
face to mine
[NATASHA]
Don’t touch me!
[MARYA D]
Why didn’t he come to the house?
Why didn’t he
openly ask for your hand?
You were not kept under lock and key!
Carrying you off like some Gypsy girl!
And if he had carried you off,
don’t you think your father would have found him?
Your father, I know him
He will challenge him to a
duel and what then?
Will that be all right? Eh?
He’s a scoundrel, he’s a wretch! That’s a fact!
[NATASHA]
He is better than any of you I say
He is better than
any of you I say
Why did you interfere! Oh God, what is it all?!
What is it?!
Who are you to tell me anything?!
Sonya, why?!
Go away!
Everyone, go away!
Marya Dmitryevna tried to speak
again but Natasha cried out
Go away!
Go away! You all hate and despise me!
And she threw herself down on the sofa
[MARYA D]
Natasha!
Natalya...
[MARYA D]
I put a pillow under her head
Covered her with two quilts
Brought her a glass of lime-flower
water
But Natasha did not respond
Well, let her sleep
Let her sleep
>Marya D. leaves
[NATASHA]
But Natasha was not asleep
Her
face was pale
Her eyes wide open
All that night she did not
sleep or weep
She sat at the window
Waiting for
him