Polinka (Chekhov)
Short summary
A drapery establishment in one of the Arcades, one o'clock in the afternoon. Polinka, a young woman whose mother runs a dressmaking establishment, visits the shop to purchase various trimmings.
She specifically asks for Nikolay Timofeitch, who always takes her orders. As they discuss trimmings, Nikolay questions why she left early from their last meeting, suggesting she was too preoccupied with a student she's seeing.
Throughout their conversation about various fabrics and trimmings, Nikolay expresses his jealousy and hurt. He warns Polinka that the student won't marry her and is only using her. Polinka becomes tearful, admitting she doesn't understand her own feelings. She asks Nikolay to meet her later, as she has no one else to confide in.
"You are the only person who... cares about me, and I've no one to talk to but you." "Talk? What about? There's nothing to talk about." "These are not reed or steel, but real whalebone..."
Despite his evident pain, Nikolay maintains his professional demeanor, continuing to describe merchandise while trying to shield Polinka's tears from other customers. When she confirms she's meeting the student later, Nikolay resignedly says there's nothing to discuss. He helps her conceal her emotions from others in the shop by loudly reciting various types of lace as she wipes away her tears.
Detailed summary
Division into sections is editorial.
The drapery shop setting and introduction of characters
At one o'clock in the afternoon, the Nouveautés de Paris drapery establishment was bustling with activity. The shop hummed with the monotonous voices of shopmen, creating a sound reminiscent of students learning by heart. In the middle of this busy scene stood Polinka, a thin, fair young woman looking around for someone specific.
A dark-browed boy approached her and asked what she wanted, but Polinka replied that Nikolay Timofeitch always took her order. Nikolay, a graceful, fashionably dressed young man with frizzled hair and a big pin in his cravat, had already prepared a space at the counter and greeted her warmly.
Shopping for gimp and Nikolays jealousy
Polinka approached Nikolay and asked to see some gimp for trimming a dress. He showed her several kinds, and she began bargaining over them. As they discussed the French silk trimming and its price, Polinka also requested a bead corselet with gimp buttons and matching bead motifs. Then, bending lower over the counter, she softly asked why Nikolay had left early on Thursday.
With a smirk, Nikolay expressed surprise that she had noticed his departure, suggesting she had been too occupied with "that fine student." At this remark, Polinka blushed crimson and remained silent. Nikolay nervously arranged boxes on the counter, and an awkward silence fell between them.
Polinka broke the silence by asking for bead lace. As Nikolay described the options, he added in an undertone that he would never visit her again. When she asked why, he explained that it distressed him to see the student "carrying on" with her. He had observed them together since autumn, noting how she gazed at the student "as though he were an angel."
I shall never come and see you again... Why? It's very simple. You must understand that yourself. Why should I distress myself? It's a queer business! Do you suppose it's a pleasure to me to see that student carrying on with you?
Nikolays warnings about Polinkas student admirer
Polinka remained silent, embarrassed as she moved her finger on the counter. Nikolay continued, asking what inducement he had to visit her when she was clearly in love with the student. He questioned her about feather trimming, and when she expressed interest in something fashionable, he showed her the latest styles while continuing his personal remarks.
Nikolay asked if Polinka imagined the student would marry her, warning that students were forbidden to marry. He suggested the student's intentions were not honorable, claiming that students only visited shopkeepers and dressmakers to laugh at their ignorance and to drink. He warned that when the student became a doctor or lawyer, he would merely remember Polinka as "a pretty fair little thing" and probably already boasted to his friends about her.
He'll throw you over, Pelagea Sergeevna! Or if he does marry you, it won't be for love but from hunger; he'll be tempted by your money. He'll furnish himself a nice home with your dowry, and then be ashamed of you.
Nikolay continued his warnings, saying the student would keep her hidden from his friends and visitors because of her lack of education. He claimed the student would call her his "dummy of a wife" since she wouldn't know how to behave in a doctor's or lawyer's social circle, where she would be seen as just an ignorant dressmaker.
Polinkas tears and their concealed conversation
During their conversation, various customers and shopmen interrupted them. A solid shopman with whiskers offered to show a lady jerseys, while a stout lady with a deep voice passed by asking for seamless items with trade marks. Nikolay noticed tears in Polinka's eyes and quickly led her to the corset department, hiding her behind a high pyramid of boxes to shield her from public view.
"There are tears in your eyes," says Nikolay Timofeitch in dismay. "What's that for? Come to the corset department, I'll screen you—it looks awkward."
While pretending to show her corsets, Nikolay urged Polinka to wipe her tears. She asked for a size forty-eight centimeter corset with real whalebone, then pleaded with him to visit her that day, saying he was the only person who cared about her. Nikolay questioned the point of talking when she was planning to walk with the student later. When he asked directly if she was in love, Polinka hesitantly admitted she was, and large tears flowed from her eyes.
As a tall, lanky shopman approached to show a customer elastic garters, Nikolay continued to screen Polinka. Trying to conceal both her emotion and his own, he wrinkled his face into a smile and loudly recited different types of lace to maintain the appearance of a normal business transaction, all while repeatedly urging her to wipe her tears before others noticed.