t give money to a fool;
he'll only go smash! Foh, foh, foh, brr! just like brother and like me, the
brute! [_In a voice half asleep_] Mitya, I will come and spend the night
with you.

MITYA. Come on. The office is empty now--it's a holiday.

LYUBIM KARPYCH. Oh, but I'll play a funny joke on brother. [_Falls asleep_.

MITYA. [_Walks towards the door and takes the letter out of his pocket_]
What can she have written? I'm frightened!--My hands tremble!--Well, what
is to be will be! I'll read it. [_Reads_] "And I love you. Lyubov Tortsov."
[_Clutches his head and runs out_.

ACT II

_Guest-room in the house of_ TORTSOV. _Against the rear wall a sofa, in
front of the sofa a round table and six armchairs, three on each side;
in the left corner a door; on each wall a mirror, and under them little
tables. A door in each side wall, and a door in the rear wall in the
corner. On the stage it is dark; from the left door comes a light._

SCENE I

LYUBOV GORDEYEVNA _and_ ANNA IVANOVNA _enter through the lighted door._

ANNA IVANOVNA. Why don't they come, our fine lads? Shall we go and fetch
them?

LYUBOV GORDEYEVNA. No, you'd better not. Well, yes, if you like, fetch
them. [_Embraces her_] Fetch them, Annushka.

ANNA IVANOVNA. Well, evidently you aren't happy without him!

LYUBOV GORDEYEVNA. Oh, Annushka, if you only knew how I love him!

ANNA IVANOVNA. Love him, then, my dear, but don't lose your wits. Don't let
him go too far, or you may be sorry for it. Be sure you find out first what
sort of a fellow he is.

LYUBOV GORDEYEVNA. He's a good lad!--I love him very much; he's so quiet,
and he's an orphan.

ANNA IVANOVNA. Well, if he's good, then love him; you ought to know best.
I just said that! Many a girl comes to grief because of them. It's easy to
get into trouble, if you don't use your sense.

LYUBOV GORDEYEVNA. What is our love? Like a blade of grass in the field; it
blooms out of season--and it fades.

ANNA IVANOVNA. Wait a moment! Some one's coming, I think. Isn't it he? I'll
go and you wait, perhaps it's he! Have a good talk with him. [_She goes
out._

MITYA _enters._

SCENE II

LYUBOV GORDEYEVNA _and_ MITYA

LYUBOV GORDEYEVNA. Who's there?

MITYA. It's I, Mitya.

LYUBOV GORDEYEVNA. Why were you so long in coming?

MITYA. I was detained. [_Approaches_] Lyubov Gordeyevna, are you alone?

LYUBOV GORDEYEVNA. Yes, what of it?

MITYA. Lyubov Gordeyevna, how do you wish me to un