I had guarded my maiden honour like the apple of my eye; you have ruined me for nothing,—you have deceived me. You have not taken pity on an orphan (weeping); you have abandoned me. You have killed me, but I wish you no evil. God be with you! If you find some one better, you will forget me; if some one worse, you will think of me— You will think of me, Nikíta! Good-bye, if it has to be so. I have loved you so much! Good-bye for the last time. (Wants to embrace him, and grasps his head.)
Nikíta (tearing himself away). Oh, what a bother you are! If you do not go away, I will, and you can stay here.
Marína (crying aloud). You are a beast! (In the door.) God will not give you happiness! (Goes away weeping.)
Scene XX. Nikíta and Akulína.
Akulína (coming out of the storeroom). You are a dog, Nikita!
Nikíta. How so?
Akulína. How she wept! (Weeps.)
Nikíta. What is the matter with you?
Akulína. What? You have wronged her. You will wrong me the same way, you dog! (Goes into the storeroom.)
Scene XXI. Nikíta alone.
Nikíta (after a silence). It is a muddle. I love women like sugar; but when you have sinned with them it is terrible!
Curtain.
