IRINA. You say that life is beautiful. Yes, if only it seems so! The life of us three hasn’t been beautiful yet; it has been stifling us as if it was weeds… I’m crying. I oughtn’t…. [Dries her tears, smiles] We must work, work. That is why we are unhappy and look at the world so sadly; we don’t know what work is. Our parents despised work….
[Enter NATALIA IVANOVA; she wears a pink dress and a green sash.]
NATASHA. They’re already at lunch… I’m late… [Carefully examines herself in a mirror, and puts herself straight] I think my hair’s done all right…. [Sees IRINA] Dear Irina Sergeyevna, I congratulate you! [Kisses her firmly and at length] You’ve so many visitors, I’m really ashamed…. How do you do, Baron!
OLGA. [Enters from dining-room] Here’s Natalia Ivanovna. How are you, dear! [They kiss.]
NATASHA. Happy returns. I’m awfully shy, you’ve so many people here.
OLGA. All our friends. [Frightened, in an undertone] You’re wearing a green sash! My dear, you shouldn’t!
NATASHA. Is it a sign of anything?
OLGA. No, it simply doesn’t go well… and it looks so queer.
NATASHA. [In a tearful voice] Yes? But it isn’t really green, it’s too dull for that. [Goes into dining-room with OLGA.]
[They have all sat down to lunch in the dining-room, the sitting-room is empty.]
KULIGIN. I wish you a nice fiancée, Irina. It’s quite time you married.
CHEBUTIKIN. Natalia Ivanovna, I wish you the same.
KULIGIN. Natalia Ivanovna has a fiancé already.
MASHA. [Raps with her fork on a plate] Let’s all get drunk and make life purple for once!
KULIGIN. You’ve lost three good conduct marks.
VERSHININ. This is a nice drink. What’s it made of?
SOLENI. Blackbeetles.
IRINA. [Tearfully] Phoo! How disgusting!
OLGA. There is to be a roast turkey and a sweet apple pie for dinner. Thank goodness I can spend all day and the evening at home. You’ll come in the evening, ladies and gentlemen….
VERSHININ. And please may I come in the evening!
IRINA. Please do.
NATASHA. They don’t stand on ceremony here.
CHEBUTIKIN. Nature only brought us into the world that we should love! [Laughs.]
ANDREY. [Angrily] Please don’t! Aren’t you tired of it?
[Enter FEDOTIK and RODE with a large basket of flowers.]
FEDOTIK. They’re lunching already.
RODE. [Loudly and thickly] Lunching? Yes, so they are….
FEDOTIK. Wait a minute! [Takes a photograph] That’s one. No, just a moment…. [Takes another] That’s two. Now we’re ready!
[They take the basket and go into the dining-room, where they have a noisy reception.]
RODE. [Loudly] Congratulations and best wishes! Lovely weather to-day, simply perfect. Was out walking with the High School students all the morning. I take their drills.
FEDOTIK. You may move, Irina Sergeyevna! [Takes a photograph] You look well to-day. [Takes a humming-top out of his pocket] Here’s a humming-top, by the way. It’s got a lovely note!
IRINA. How awfully nice!
MASHA.
“There stands a green oak by the sea,
And a chain of bright gold is around it…
And a chain of bright gold is around it…”
[Tearfully] What am I saying that for? I’ve had those words running in my head all day….
KULIGIN. There are thirteen at table!
RODE. [Aloud] Surely you don’t believe in that superstition? [Laughter.]
KULIGIN. If there are thirteen at table then it means there are lovers present. It isn’t you, Ivan Romanovitch, hang it all…. [Laughter.]
CHEBUTIKIN. I’m a hardened sinner, but I really don’t see why Natalia Ivanovna should blush….
[Loud laughter; NATASHA runs out into the sitting-room, followed by ANDREY.]
ANDREY. Don’t pay any attention to them! Wait… do stop, please….
NATASHA. I’m shy… I don’t know what’s the matter with me and they’re all laughing at me. It wasn’t nice of me to leave the table like that, but I can’t… I can’t. [Covers her face with her hands.]
ANDREY. My dear, I beg you. I implore you not to excite yourself. I assure you they’re only joking, they’re kind people. My dear, good girl, they’re all kind and sincere people, and they like both you and me. Come here to the window, they can’t see us here…. [Looks round.]
NATASHA. I’m so unaccustomed to meeting people!
ANDREY. Oh your youth, your splendid, beautiful youth! My darling, don’t be so excited! Believe me, believe me… I’m so happy, my soul is full of love, of ecstasy…. They don’t see us! They can’t! Why, why or when did I fall in love with you — Oh, I can’t understand anything. My dear, my pure darling, be my wife! I love you, love you… as never before…. [They kiss.]
[Two officers come in and, seeing the lovers kiss, stop in astonishment.]
Curtain.
ACT II
[Scene as before. It is 8 p.m. Somebody is heard playing a concertina outside in’ the street. There is no fire. NATALIA IVANOVNA enters in indoor dress carrying a candle; she stops by the door which leads into ANDREY’S room.]
NATASHA. What are you doing, Andrey? Are you reading? It’s nothing, only I…. [She opens another door, and looks in, then closes it] Isn’t there any fire….
ANDREY. [Enters with book in hand] What are you doing, Natasha?
NATASHA. I was looking to see if there wasn’t a fire. It’s Shrovetide, and the servant is simply beside herself; I must look out that something doesn’t happen. When I came through the dining-room yesterday midnight, there was a candle burning. I couldn’t get her to tell me who had lighted it. [Puts down her candle] What’s the time?
ANDREY. [Looks at his watch] A quarter past eight.
NATASHA. And Olga and Irina aren’t in yet. The poor things are still at work. Olga at the teacher’s council, Irina at the telegraph office…. [Sighs] I said to your sister this morning, “Irina, darling, you must take care of yourself.” But she pays no attention. Did you say it was a quarter past eight? I am afraid little Bobby is quite ill. Why is he so cold? He was feverish yesterday, but to-day he is quite cold… I am so frightened!
ANDREY. It’s all right, Natasha. The boy is well.
NATASHA. Still, I think we ought to put him on a diet. I am so afraid. And the entertainers were to be here after nine; they had better not come, Audrey.
ANDREY. I don’t know. After all, they were asked.
NATASHA. This morning, when the little boy woke up and saw me he suddenly smiled; that means he knew me. “Good morning, Bobby!” I said, “good morning, darling.” And he laughed. Children understand, they understand very well.