KABANOV. Merciful Heavens, it is she! _(tries to run off. Mme. Kabanova holds his arm)_ Mamma, let me go! I will save her! or I too ... What can I do without her!

MME. KABANOVA. I'm not going to let you go, and don't you suppose it! Kill yourself on her account; she's worth that, isn't she? As if she'd not brought disgrace enough on us already, to plot to do a thing like this too!

KABANOV. Let me go!

MME. KABANOVA. There are plenty to help without you. I'll curse you if you go.

KABANOV _(falling on his knees)._ Oh, to look upon her at least!

MME. KABANOVA. They'll pull her out--you'll look upon her, right enough.

KABANOV (_gets up. To the crowd_). Well, my lads, do you see anything?

ONE OF THE CROWD. It's dark down below, there's nothing in sight.

[_A noise behind the scene._

A SECOND. They seemed to be shouting something, but I couldn't make out what.

THE FIRST. That's Kuligin's voice.

THE SECOND. They're coming along the bank with torches.

THE FIRST. They're coming this way, and they're carrying her.

[_Several people come back._

ONE OF THOSE WHO HAVE COME BACK. That Kuligin's a brave fellow! It was close here in a deep pool, near the bank; with the torchlight we could see a long way off in the water; he saw her dress and pulled her out.

KABANOV. Alive?

THE MAN. How could she be alive? She had thrown herself from the height; the bank is steep there, and she must have fallen upon the anchor, she was so injured, poor thing! But she looks as though she were alive! Only one little wound on the temple, and one single stain of blood on it.

[_Kabanov runs across the scene, meets Kuligin with the crowd, carrying in Katerina._

SCENE VII

The Same and KULIGIN.

KULIGIN. Here is your Katerina. You may do what you like with her. Her body is here, take it; but her soul is not yours now; she is before a Judge more merciful than you are, now!

[_Lays her on the ground and exit._

KABANOV _(rushes to Katerina)._ Katia! Katia!

MME. KABANOVA. Hush! It's a sin even to weep for her!

KABANOV. Mother, you have murdered her! you! you! you!

MME. KABANOVA. What do you mean? Think what you're saying! You forget whom you're speaking to!

KABANOV. You have murdered her! you! you!

MME. KABANOVA. Come, I'll talk to you at home. (_Bows low to the assembled people_) I thank you, good people, for your services! [_All bow low._

KABANOV. It is well with you, Katia! But why am I left to live and suffer! [_Falls on his wife's body._

End of Project Gutenberg's The Storm, by Aleksandr Nicolaevich Ostrovsky