. .

VARYAIt’s good luck.

ANYA (coming out of her room)We should warn Mama about Petya being here . . .

VARYAIt’s all right—I told them not to wake him.

ANYA (reflectively)Six years since Papa died, and my little brother drowned in the river barely a month after, little Grisha, only seven and so pretty. It was too much for Mama. She left and didn’t look back, she just ran and ran. (shudders) I understand her so well. If only she knew. (pause) It might bring it all back, seeing Grisha’s tutor again.

Enter Firs; he’s in a jacket and white waistcoat. He goes to the coffee pot, preoccupied.

FIRSThe mistress will be taking her coffee in here . . . (putting on white gloves) Is it ready? (to Dunyasha, sternly) Where’s the cream?—wake up, girl!

DUNYASHAOh!—oh, my goodness . . .

Dunyasha rushes out.

FIRS (dealing with the coffee pot)You noodle . . . (mutters to himself) They’ve come all the way from Paris. The master went to Paris in his coach once. (laughs)

VARYAFirs, what are you muttering about?

FIRSWhat is it? (joyfully) The mistress is home! The long wait is over! I don’t mind if I die now . . . (weeps with joy) Now it’s all right to die.

Enter Liubov Andreevna, Lopakhin, Gaev, and Simeonov-Pishchik, who is wearing a long, tight-fitting coat of fine cloth and loose Turkish trousers. Gaev, as he comes in, plays air billiards.

LIUBOVHow does it go?—Let’s see—I pot the yellow into the corner pocket—and go off the cushion into the middle.

GAEVScrew-shot into the top corner! We used to sleep in this room once upon a time, my little sister and I, and now I’m fifty-one years old, hard to believe.

LOPAKHINYes, time passes.

GAEVWhat?

LOPAKHINTime. I said it passes.

GAEVIt smells of cheap scent in here.

ANYAI’m going to bed. (kissing her mother) Goodnight Mama.

LIUBOVMy little baby. (kisses her hands) Are you glad to be home? I can’t quite believe it.

ANYAGoodnight, uncle.

GAEV (kisses her face and hands)God bless you. You’re so like your mother! (to his sister) Liuba, you were so like her at her age.

Anya gives her hand to Lopakhin and Pishchik, goes out and doses the door behind her.

LIUBOVShe’s tired out.

PISHCHIKWell, a long journey, of course . . .

VARYA (to Lopakhin and Pishchik)So, gentlemen, long past two and time to be going.

LIUBOV (laughs)Same old Varya.