The noise off-stage increases.

ANYA’S VOICEWe can go through here.

A crowd of people enter and cross the stage: LIUBOV ANDREEVNA, ANYA and CHARLOTTA IVANOVNA, who has a small dog on a lead, all dressed for travelling; VARYA in an overcoat and kerchief, GAEV, SIMEONOV-PISHCHIK, Lopakhin, Dunyasha, with a bundle and an umbrella, and servants with luggage, etc.

ANYADo you remember what room this is, Mama?

LIUBOV (joyfully, on the brink of tears)The nursery!

VARYAIt’s so cold. My hands are numb. (to Liubov Andreevna) We’ve kept your rooms just as they were, Mama—the white room and the lavender room, do you remember?

LIUBOVThe nursery . . . ! My dear beautiful nursery. This is where I used to sleep when I was little . . . (weeping now) I’m a little girl again . . . (she kisses her brother, Gaev, and her adopted daughter, Varya, then Gaev again) Varya hasn’t changed at all, you still look like a nun. And I know you, Dunyasha . . . (she kisses Dunyasha).

GAEVThe train was two hours late. Just think of it! They need to get themselves organised.

CHARLOTTA (to Pishchik)This dog eats nuts.

PISHCHIK (amazed)Really? Fancy that!

Everyone continues out except Anya and Dunyasha.

DUNYASHAWe waited and waited till we thought you’d never come.

Dunyasha takes off Anya’s coat and hat.

ANYAI didn’t sleep for four nights on the train. I’m frozen stiff.

DUNYASHAWhen you set off in Lent it was all snow and ice—but now look! (laughs, kisses her) I’ve been waiting for you, my lovely, my precious, I have to tell you, I can’t wait another minute . . .

ANYA (tiredly)What now?

DUNYASHAYepikhodov the clerk, straight after Easter, he proposed to me!

ANYAThat’s all you ever think about. (tidying her hair) I’ve lost all my hairpins one by one.

She is almost staggering with exhaustion.

DUNYASHAI just don’t know what to think. He’s terribly in love with me.

ANYA (looks through her doorway, tenderly)Oh, my room, my windows . . . ! As though I’ve never been away. Home at last! When I wake up I’m going to go straight out into the garden. If only I could get to sleep! The whole way here I was so worried I never slept at all.

DUNYASHATrofimov’s come back.

ANYA (joyfully)Petya’s here?

DUNYASHAThe day before yesterday. He’s asleep in the bathhouse—he’s moved in there. He says he doesn’t want to be in the way.