The Cherry Orchard / Вишневый сад. Книга для чтения на английском языке

Varya. What are we to do, little mother? It’s the will of God.

Trofimov. [Softly, through his tears] It’s all right, it’s all right.

Lubov. [Still weeping] My boy’s dead; he was drowned. Why? Why, my friend? [Softly] Anya’s asleep in there. I am speaking so loudly, making such a noise… Well, Peter? What’s made you look so bad? Why have you grown so old?

Trofimov. In the train an old woman called me a decayed gentleman.

Lubov. You were quite a boy then, a nice little student, and now your hair is not at all thick and you wear spectacles.

Are you really still a student? [Goes to the door.]

Trofimov. I suppose I shall always be a student.

Lubov. [Kisses her brother, thenVarya] Well, let’s go to bed… And you’ve grown older, Leonid.

Pischin. [Follows her] Yes, we’ve got to go to bed… Oh, my gout! I’ll stay the night here. If only, Lubov Andreyevna, my dear, you could get me 240 roubles tomorrow morning…

Gaev.

Still the same story.

Pischin. Two hundred and forty roubles… to pay the interest on the mortgage.

Lubov. I haven’t any money, dear man.

Pischin. I’ll give it back… it’s a small sum…

Lubov. Well, then, Leonid will give it to you… Let him have it, Leonid.

Gaev. By all means; hold out your hand.

Lubov. Why not? He wants it; he’ll give it back.

Lubov Andreyevna, Trofimov, Pischin, andFiersgo out.

Gaev, Varya, andYasharemain.

Gaev. My sister hasn’t lost the habit of throwing money about. [ToYasha] Stand off, do; you smell of poultry.

Yasha. [Grins] You are just the same as ever, Leonid Andreyevitch.

Gaev. Really? [ToVarya] What’s he saying?

Varya. [ToYasha] Your mother’s come from the village; she’s been sitting in the servants’ room since yesterday, and wants to see you…

Yasha. Bless the woman!

Varya.

Shameless man.

Yasha. A lot of use there is in her coming. She might have come tomorrow just as well. [Exit.]

Varya. Mother hasn’t altered a scrap, she’s just as she always was. She’d give away everything, if the idea only entered her head.

Gaev. Yes… [Pause] If there’s any illness for which people offer many remedies, you may be sure that particular illness is incurable, I think. I work my brains to their hardest.