. .

Anya appears in the doorway.

GAEV (cont.). . . and having not married into the nobility, she’s behaved, well, you couldn’t exactly say she’s behaved with decorum. She’s good and kind, a wonderful woman, and I’m very fond of her, but after making every allowance one can think of, one has to admit she is a woman of loose morals. You only have to look at the way she moves.

VARYA (whispers)Anya’s there.

GAEVEh?—what? (pause) How odd, I’ve got something in my eye—I can’t see properly. And last Thursday, when I was at the District Court . . .

Anya comes forward.

VARYAWhy are you still awake, Anya?

ANYAI just can’t get to sleep.

GAEVMy precious. (kissing Anya’s face and hands) My little one . . . (on the brink of tears) you’re more my angel than my niece, you’re everything to me. It’s the truth, believe me.

ANYAI do believe you, uncle. Everyone loves you and looks up to you, but, dear uncle, you must keep quiet, just keep quiet. What were you saying about my mother? About your own sister? What did you have to say that for?

GAEVI know, I know . . . (covering his face with her hand) That was dreadful of me. Oh God—help me! And I made a speech to a cupboard, how ridiculous—it wasn’t till I’d finished that I realised how absurd it was.

VARYAIt’s true, uncle dear, you should keep quiet, just keep quiet, that’s all.

ANYAIf you keep quiet you won’t go upsetting yourself.

GAEVI’m quiet. (kisses Anya’s and Varya’s hands) Quiet. There’s just one thing—it’s business. When I was down at the courts on Thursday, well, there was a group of us talking of this and that, and it seems that it might be possible to arrange a loan against a promissory note, enough to pay the bank interest.

VARYAOh, please God!

GAEVI’ll go down there on Tuesday and have another chat. (to Varya) Don’t howl. (to Anya) Your Mama will have a talk with Lopakhin. He’ll never refuse her. And when you feel rested, you’ll go to Yaroslavl to your great-aunt the countess. So there you are, we’ll attack on three fronts and it’s in the bag. We’ll pay the interest, no doubt about it. (putting a lemon drop in his mouth) On my honour—I’ll take any oath you like on it, the estate will not be sold!—(excited) on my happiness I swear it!—my hand on it, you can call me a worthless cad if the auction goes ahead—I swear it with every particle of my being!

ANYA (calm and happy again)You’re so good uncle, and so clever.