How did you get here? ...

ANNA PETROVNA [laughing]: That’s exactly how he once used to talk ... Word for word ... But his eyes are bigger, and when he began to talk heatedly about something, then they would glow like coals ... Talk, talk! ...

LVOV [getting up and gesturing with his hand]: What should I talk about? Go to your rooms ...

ANNA PETROVNA: You say that Nikolay is this and that, one thing and another. How have you come to know him? Can one get to know a man in half a year? Doctor, he’s a remarkable man and I’m sorry you didn’t know him two or three years ago. Now he’s gloomy and silent and does nothing, but then ... What charm! ... I fell in love with him at first sight. [Laughing] I just looked at him and the mousetrap went snap! He said, let’s go ... I cut off everything from me, just as, you know, you cut off withered leaves with scissors, and I went ...

[A pause.]

And now it’s different ... Now he goes to the Lebedevs’ to amuse himself with other women, and I ... sit in the garden and listen to the cry of the owl ...

[The knock of the watchtnan.13]

Doctor, do you have brothers?

LVOV: No.

[ANNA PETROVNA groans.]

What now? What’s the matter?

ANNA PETROVNA [getting up]: I can’t stand it, doctor, I will go there ...

LVOV: Where?

ANNA PETROVNA: Where he is ... I will go ... Tell them to harness the horses ... [Goes towards the house.]

LVOV: You mustn’t go ...

ANNA PETROVNA: Leave me alone, it’s none of your business ... I can’t stand it, I’m going ... Tell them to bring the horses ... [Runs into the house.]

LVOV: No, I absolutely refuse to be a doctor in these conditions. It’s not just that they don’t pay me a kopeck, they also turn my feelings upside down ... No, I refuse. I’ve had enough. [Goes into the house.]

[Curtain.]

Act Two

A reception room in the Lebedevs’ house; doors opening directly into the garden, and doors right and left. Valuable antique furniture. The chandelier, candelabra and pictures are all under covers.1

I

[IZINAIDA SAVISHNA, FIRST GUEST, SECOND GUEST, THIRD GUEST, KOSYKH, AVDOTYA NAZAROVNA, YEGORUSHKA, GAVRILA, a maid, old lady guests, young ladies, BABAKINA.]

[ZINAIDA SAVISHNA is sitting on a sofa. On either side of her are old ladies in armchairs; the young people are on chairs. Backstage, by the door to the garden, a game of cards is in progress; among the players are KOSYKH, AVDOTYA NAZAROVNA and YEGORUSHKA. GAVRILA is standing by the right-hand door; a maid is offering sweetmeats on a tray. Guests are circulating from the garden, through the right-hand door and back again throughout the whole act. BABAKINA comes through the right-hand door and moves towards Zinaida Savishna.]

ZINAIDA SAVISHNA [gaily]: Marfa Yegorovna, my love ... BABAKINA: Good evening, Zinaida Savishna. May I have the honour of congratulating you on the birthday ...

[They kiss.]

God grant ...

ZINAIDA SAVISHNA: Thank you, my love, I am so pleased ...