The Three Sisters / Три сестры

[Pause] I remember that there was music at the funeral, and they п¬Ѓred a volley in the cemetery. He was a general in command of a brigade but there were few people present. Of course, it was raining then, raining hard, and snowing.

I r i n a. Why think about it!

[Baron Tuzenbach, Chebutikin and Soleni appear by the table in the dining-room, behind the pillars.]

O l g a. It’s so warm today that we can keep the windows open, though the birches are not yet in flower. Father was put in command of a brigade, and he rode out of Moscow with us eleven years ago.

I remember perfectly that it was early in May and that everything in Moscow was flowering then. It was warm too, everything was bathed in sunshine. Eleven years have gone, and I remember everything as if we rode out only yesterday. Oh, God! When I awoke this morning and saw all the light and the spring, joy entered my heart, and I longed passionately to go home.

C h e b u t i k i n. Will you take a bet on it?

T u z e n b a c h. Oh, nonsense.

[Masha, lost in a reverie over her book, whistles softly.]

O l g a. Don’t whistle, Masha. How can you! [Pause] I’m always having headaches from having to go to the High School every day and then teach till evening. Strange thoughts come to me, as if I were already an old woman. And really, during these four years that I have been working here, I have been feeling as if every day my strength and youth have been squeezed out of me, drop by drop. And only one desire grows and gains in strength …

I r i n a.

To go away to Moscow. To sell the house, drop everything here, and go to Moscow …

O l g a. Yes! To Moscow, and as soon as possible.

[Chebutikin and Tuzenbach laugh.]

I r i n a. I expect Andrey will become a professor, but still, he won’t want to live here. Only poor Masha must go on living here.

O l g a. Masha can come to Moscow every year, for the whole summer.

[Masha is whistling gently.]

I r i n a. Everything will be arranged, please God.

[Looks out of the window] It’s nice out today. I don’t know why I’m so happy: I remembered this morning that it was my name-day, and I suddenly felt glad and remembered my childhood, when mother was still with us. What beautiful thoughts I had, what thoughts!

O l g a. You’re all radiance today, I’ve never seen you look so lovely. And Masha is pretty, too. Andrey wouldn’t be bad-looking, if he wasn’t so stout; it does spoil his appearance.