Fathers and Sons. Ivan Turgenev
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the house)
Bazarov
Is he always like that?
Arkady
I must say, Eugeny, you weren’t nice to him. You’ve hurt his feelings.
Bazarov
I really didn’t start it. He should have continued his career if that’s his bent. All this vanity and dandyism are a bit out of place a hundred miles from nowhere.
Arkady
He deserves pity rather than ridicule. He’s profoundly unhappy. It’s a sin to ridicule him.
Bazarov
Who’s ridiculing him? He asked my opinion, that’s all, and I told him.
(Still eating)
Have some more meat, Arkady, it’s delicious. There’s no better remedy for idealism than the taste of a good dinner.
Arkady
You’re incorrigible.
Bazarov
Of course.
CURTAIN
ACT I
SCENE 2
Nicolai Kirsanov’s garden. One or two days later.
Fenitchka is in the garden with a maid, Dunyasha, and her baby. Fenitchka is in the swing, giving the baby a ride. Pavel sees her from the house, hesitates and goes directly to her. Fenitchka jumps out of the swing, in great confusion. She gives the baby to Dunyasha.
Pavel
Stay put. Stay put. Pardon me, if I disturb you—I only wanted to ask you—they are sending into town today, I think—please, let them buy me some green tea.
Fenitchka
Certainly, how much do you want?
Pavel
Oh, half a pound will be enough, I imagine—
(Pause)
I went to your rooms. You have new curtains.
Fenitchka (still embarrassed)
Oh, yes, the curtains. Nicolai Petrovitch was so kind as to make a present of them. They have been up a long time though.
Pavel
It’s a long time since I have been to see you. It’s very nice now.
Fenitchka
Thanks to Nicolai Petrovitch’s kindness.
Pavel
You are more comfortable now, than in the little lodge you used to have?
Fenitchka
Certainly—
Pavel
Who has the lodge now?
Fenitchka
The laundry maids.
Pavel
Ah!
(Pause)
May I see the little one? I love children.
Fenitchka
Dunyasha, please bring Mitya. Ah, he doesn’t have a frock on.
Pavel
It doesn’t matter. What a chubby fellow.
Fenitchka (to the baby)
That’s Uncle.
Pavel
How many months old is he?
Fenitchka
Six months; he will be seven months next week.
Pavel
He’s like my brother.
Fenitchka
Who else should he be like?
Pavel
Yes, there’s an unmistakable resemblance.
Fenitchka
That’s Uncle—
(Nicolai enters from the garden)
Nicolai
Ah, Pavel, so you’re here!
Pavel
You’ve got a splendid little cherub. I came to speak about some tea.
(He bows and returns to the house)
Nicolai
Did he come of himself?
Fenitchka
Yes.
Nicolai
Has Arkady been to see you again?
Fenitchka
No—Hadn’t I better move back to the lodge, Nicolai Petrovitch?
Nicolai
Why so?
Fenitchka
I wonder whether it wouldn’t be best just for the first?
Nicolai
N-no—we ought to have done it before.
(Turning the baby)
How are you chubby?
(Kisses the baby and then Fenitchka)
Fenitchka
Nicolai Petrovitch, what are you doing?
Nicolai
You’re so bashful—
Fenitchka
I can’t help it!
Nicolai
It’s charming.
(Pause)
So, my brother came to see you?
Fenitchka
Yes.
Nicolai
Well, that’s a good thing. I’ve got to get back to the house. You stay here.
(He exits to the house)
(Bazarov and Arkady enter from the garden)
Bazarov
You ought to have planted silver poplars. Ah, there’s someone here.
(Arkady nods to Fenitchka)
Bazarov
Who’s that? What a pretty girl!
Arkady
Which one?
Bazarov
Only one of them is pretty.
Arkady
That’s Fenitchka, my father’s—ah, close friend.
Bazarov
Ah,—your father’s got good taste, one can see. I like him, your father. We must make friends, though.
Arkady
Bazarov, mind what you are about.
Bazarov
Don’t worry yourself, I know how to behave—I’m not a booby.
(He goes up to Fenitchka, who exhibits great embarrassment, and takes off his cap)
Allow me to introduce myself. I’m a harmless person, and a friend of Arkady Kirsanov.
(Fenitchka rises, too embarrassed to speak)
Bazarov
What a splendid baby! Don’t be uneasy— Why is he so red? Is he cutting his teeth?
Fenitchka