The Poor Bride

SCENE V.

A husband will love me! But will I love my husband! That is the problem. It is easy for mother to say: get married! But whom shall I marry? I cannot even imagine without horror how to marry a man for whom, besides revulsion, I feel nothing. (She becomes lost in thought). Every freak thinks he has the right to propose, and even considers it some kind of favor, because she is, as they say, a poor bride. One simply barters for me like some object: I have means, he says, you have nothing, I will take your daughter for her beauty; another will pretend to be in love, crawling with affections—that is even worse. My God, how much I have seen that is offensive of late! (She looks out the window, lost in thought). Merich! That is wonderful. He walks so sadly, lost in thought. I would like to know what he is thinking about, surely not about me. (She approaches the mirror). Ah, how stupid I am! Why did I blush all over, and my voice is trembling. I must calm down a little—he might notice. And what of it, I would even like for him to notice; what would he do? Ah, what nonsense! Why am I lying? Darya! Darya! (Darya enters). Go, ask Vladimir Vasilyevich to take a walk in the garden.

Very well, miss. (She leaves).

Different matchmakers are always appearing here, it is very pleasant to look at them. I have grown used to it, but I think it will seem very strange to him. Ah, how glad I am for him—he visits us so rarely...

If you please, miss, he is in the garden. (Marya Andreyevna leaves. Darya is dusting the furniture). What a mistress I have, honestly... God grant her a good suitor! (She stops in the middle of the room with a rag in her hand).