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ELENA ANDREYEVNA, AND THEN FYODOR IVANOVICH

ELENA ANDREYEVNA (alone): What? A letter from George to me! But how am I to blame? Oh, how harsh and cruel of her! … Her heart feels so pure to-day that she can’t talk to me… My God, what an insult! My head is dizzy. … I shall drop! …

FYODOR (coming out by the left door and crossing the stage): Why do you always start when you see me? (A pause.)

H’m! … (Taking the letter from her hands and tearing it to pieces.) You must stop all this. You must think of me only.

(A pause )

ELENA ANDREYEVNA: What does that mean?

FYODOR: It means that if I once pick out someone, it’s no use her trying to escape from my hands.

ELENA ANDREYEVNA: No, it only means that you are an impudent fool.

FYODOR: This evening at half-past seven you will be by the little bridge behind the garden and wait for me… Well?… I’ve nothing more to say to you… And so, my angel, until half-past seven! (Tries to take her arm. She gives him a slap on the face.) Forcibly expressed! …

ELENA ANDREYEVNA: Off you gO!

FYODOR: At your service… (Walking away and returning.) Iam touched… Let’s reason it out peacefully… You see… I’ve experienced everything in this world; I have even tasted goldfish soup once or twice… But I’ve never yet gone up in a balloon, nor ever once carried off learned professors’ wives… .

ELENA ANDREYEVNA: GO!

FYODOR: In a minute… I’ve experienced everything.… And because of that, there’s so much impudence in me that I simply don’t know what to do with myself. I mean, I am saying all this to you with this object, that if you ever happen to need a friend or a faithful dog, just turn to me… . Iam touched… .

ELENA ANDREYEVNA: I want no dogs… Go!

FYODOR: At your service. (With feeling) Nevertheless and in spite of all, I am touched… Certainly, I am touched… . Yes… . [Irresolutely goes out.

ELENA ANDREYEVNA (alone): My head aches… Every night I dream bad dreams and have a presentiment of something terrible… Yet how horrid! The young people were born here and grew up together, they “thou “one another, always kiss one another; they ought to live in peace and harmony; but soon, I think, they will all have devoured one another… The forests are being saved by the Wood Demon, but there’s no one to save human beings.

[She goes towards the left door, but on noticing ZHELTOUKHIN and JULIE coming in by that door, she goes out by the middle door.