Author Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1912 edition. Excerpt:... SCENE XV. Liza and Sasha. Liza. (Drops into a chair.) This is too much! Sasha. Never mind! It'll turn out all right. We shall manage to pacify mamma. SCENE XVI. Liza; Sasha; Anna Pavlovna (passes by). Anna Pavlovna. Dunyasha! My suit-case! Sasha. Mamma, listen! (Follows her, and winks to her sister.) TABLEAU II SCENE I. A room at the gipsies'. The chorus is singing "Kanavela." Fedya is lying on a couch, face down, without his coat. Afremov is astride of a chair, facing the leader of the chorus. An officer sits at the table on which stand champagne-bottles and glasses. At the same table a cocmposer sits, taking down the melodies. Afremov. Fedya, are you asleep? Fedya. Keep quiet! Now let's have "'Twas Not At Eventide." Gipsy. Not just now, Feodor Vasilyevich. Now let Masha sing alone. Fedya. All right then. But after that, "Twas Not At Eventide." (lies down again.) Officer. "The Fatal Hour!" Gipsy. Agreed? Afremov. It'll do. Officer. (To the composer.) Well, did you take it down? Composer. Impossible. It sounds different every time. And the scale is somehow altogether unusual. Look here (to the gipsy girl, who is looking on), how does this go? (Hums.) Gipsy Girl. That's just right! That's fine! Fedya. (Rising.) He won't take it down, and if he takes it down and sticks it into an opera he'll spoil it all. Well, Masha, let's have it, "The Hour," for all I care. Take the guitar. (Gets up, sits down in front of her, and gazes into her eyes.) Masha. (Sings.) Fedya. Bravo! Talk about Masha! Now let's have "'Twas Not At Eventide." Afremov. No! Stop a moment! Sing mine first, a dirge. Officer. Why a dirge? Afremov. Why, because when I'll be dead--you understand, of course, that I shall die some time or other--the gipsies will come to my...