The Three Sisters / Три сестры

… [Steps away.]

K u l i g i n. And then we’re to spend the evening at the director’s. In spite of his ill-health that man tries, above everything else, to be sociable. A splendid, illuminating personality. A wonderful man. After yesterday’s committee he said to me: “I’m tired, Feodor Ilitch, I’m tired!” [Looks at the clock, then at his watch] Your clock is seven minutes fast. “Yes,” he said, “I’m tired.” [Violin played off.]

O l g a. Let’s go and have lunch! There’s to be a masterpiece of baking!

K u l i g i n.

Oh my dear Olga, my dear. Yesterday I was working till eleven o’clock at night, and got awfully tired. Today I’m quite happy. [Goes into dining-room] My dear …

C h e b u t i k i n. [Puts his paper into his pocket, and combs his beard] A pie? Splendid!

M a s h a. [Severely to Chebutikin] Only mind; you’re not to drink anything today. Do you hear? It’s bad for you.

C h e b u t i k i n. Oh, that’s all right. I haven’t been drunk for two years.

And it’s all the same, anyway!

M a s h a. You’re not to dare to drink, all the same. [Angrily, but so that her husband should not hear] Another dull evening at the Director’s, confound it!

T u z e n b a c h. I shouldn’t go if I were you. … It’s quite simple.

C h e b u t i k i n. Don’t go.

M a s h a. Yes, “don’t go. …” It’s a cursed, unbearable life. … [Goes into dining-room.]

C h e b u t i k i n. [Follows her] It’s not so bad.

S o l e n i.

[Going into the dining-room] There, there, there. …

T u z e n b a c h. Vassili Vassilevitch, that’s enough. Be quiet!

S o l e n i. There, there, there. …

K u l i g i n. [Gaily] Your health, Colonel! I’m a pedagogue and not quite at home here. I’m Masha’s husband. … She’s a good sort, a very good sort.

V e r s h i n i n. I’ll have some of this black vodka. … [Drinks] Your health! [To Olga] I’m very comfortable here!

[Only Irina and Tuzenbach are now left in the sitting-room.

]

I r i n a. Masha’s out of sorts to-day. She married when she was eighteen, when he seemed to her the wisest of men. And now it’s different. He’s the kindest man, but not the wisest.

O l g a. [Impatiently] Andrey, when are you coming?

A n d r e y. [Off] One minute. [Enters and goes to the table.]

T u z e n b a c h. What are you thinking about?

I r i n a. I don’t like this Soleni of yours and

I’m afraid of him.