A Month in the Country

BOLSHINTSOV. Well, I rely on you. . . . [Blows his nose. Enter from Left NATALYA PETROVNA, VERA, BELIAYEV with the kite, and KOLYA, followed by RAKITIN and LlZAVETA BOGDANOVNA. NATALYA PETROVNA is in a very good humour]

NATALYA PETROVNA [to BOLSHINTSOV and SHPIGELSKY]. How do you do; how are you, Shpigelsky; I didn't expect you to-day, but I am very glad to see you. How are you, Afanasy Ivanitch. [He bows with some embarrassment]

SHPIGELSKY [to NATALYA PETROVNA, indicating BOLSHINTSOV]. This gentleman here insisted on bringing me. . . .

NATALYA PETROVNA [laughing] I'm very much obliged to him. . . . But do you need forcing to come to see us?

SHPIGELSKY. Oh, good heavens! but ... I was only here . . . this morning . . . dear me. . . .

NATALYA PETROVNA. Ah! our diplomat's caught!

SHPIGELSKY. I'm delighted, Natalya Petrovna, to see that you are in a very good humour.

NATALYA PETROVNA. You think it necessary to remark it--is it so rare then with me?

SHPIGELSKY. Oh, good gracious--no . . . but . . .

NATALYA PETROVNA. Monsieur le Diplomate, you're getting more and more in a tangle.

KOLYA [who has been all this time impatiently fidgeting about VERA and BELIAYEV]. But, Maman, when are we going to fly the kite?

NATALYA PETROVNA. When you like. . . . Alexey Nikolaitch, and you Vera, let us go to the meadow. [Turning to the others.] You won't care about it, I expect. Lizaveta Bogdanovna, and you, Rakitin, I leave our good friend Afanasy Ivanovitch with you.

RAKITIN. But what makes you think we shan't care about it, Natalya Petrovna?

NATALYA PETROVNA. You are sensible people ... it must seem childish to you. . . . But as you like. We don't want to prevent your following us. [To BELIAYEV and VERA.] Come along. [NATALYA PETROVNA, VERA, BELIAYEV and KOLYA go off to Right.']

SHPIGELSKY [glancing with some surprise at RAKITIN, says to BOLSHINTSOV]. Our good friend Afanasy Ivanovitch, give your arm to Lizaveta Bogdanovna.

BOLSHINTSOV [nervously]. With the greatest pleasure.

[Gives LIZAVETA BOGDANOVNA his arm.]

SHPIGELSKY. And we'll go along together, if you'll allow me, Mihail Alexandritch. [Takes his arm.] My word! How they're racing along the avenue. Let's go and see them fly the kite, though we are sensible people.

Afanasy Ivanovitch, will you lead the way?

BOLSHINTSOV [as they walk, to LIZAVETA BOGDANOVNA]. The weather is certainly very agreeable to-day, one may say.

LIZAVETA BOGDANOVNA [mincing]. Yes, indeed, very agreeable!

SHPIGELSKY [to RAKITIN]. I've something I want to talk to you about, Mihail Alexandritch. . . . [RAKITIN suddenly laughs.] What is it?

RAKITIN. Oh . . . nothing. ... I was amused at our following in the rear like this.

SHPIGELSKY. The front rank easily turns into the rearguard, you know. ... It all depends which way you are going.

[All go out to Right.]

ACT III

The scene is the same as in Act I. RAKITIN and SHPIGELSKY come in from the outer room.

SHPIGELSKY. Well, how about it, Mihail Alexandritch? For goodness sake do help me.

RAKITIN. In what way can I help you, Ignaty Ilyitch?

SHPIGELSKY. In what way? Why, put yourself in my place, Mihail Alexandritch. This is no concern of mine, really. Indeed, I've been acting chiefly from a wish to serve others. . . . My kind heart will be my ruin!

RAKITIN [laughing]. Well, ruin's a good way off still.

SHPIGELSKY [laughing too]. About that there's no knowing, but my position is certainly awkward. I brought Bolshintsov here at Natalya Petrovna's wish, and have given him her answer with her permission, and now on one side I get sulky looks as though I'd done something foolish, and on the other, Bolshintsov gives me no peace. They avoid him and won't say a word to me.. . .

RAKITIN. What possessed you to take up this business, Ignaty Ilyitch? Why, Bolshintsov, between ourselves . . . he's simply a fool.

SHPIGELSKY. Well, I declare! Between ourselves! That's a piece of news! And since when have sensible men been the only ones to marry? We must leave the fools free to get married, if nothing else. You say I've taken up this business. . . . Not at all, I'll tell you how it came about: a friend asks me to put in a word for him. Well, was I to refuse? I'm a good-natured man, I don't know how to refuse. I carry out my friend's commission: the answer I get is: 'Very much obliged; pray, don't trouble yourself further.' I understand and don't trouble myself further. Then they take it up themselves and encourage me, so to speak. I obey; and now they're indignant with me. And in what way am I to blame?

RAKITIN. Why, who says you are to blame? . . . The only thing that puzzles me is what induces you to take so much trouble.

SHPIGELSKY. What induces ... what induces.... The man gives me no peace.

RAKITIN. Come, nonsense. . . .

SHPIGELSKY. Besides, he's an old friend.

RAKITIN [with an incredulous smile]. Is he? Oh, well, that's another matter.

SHPIGELSKY [smiling too]. I'll be open with you, though. . . . There's no deceiving you. ... Oh well--he has promised me ... one of my horses has gone lame, so you see he has promised me . . .

RAKITIN. A horse to replace it?

SHPIGELSKY. Well, since I must own up, three new ones.

RAKITIN. You should have said that before!

SHPIGELSKY [eagerly]. But please don't you imagine . . . I would never have consented to be a go-between in this affair, it would have been utterly unlike me [RAKITIN smiles], if I had not known Bolshintsov to be a thoroughly honest man. ... Besides, all I want even now is a definite answer--yes or no.

RAKITIN. Surely, things haven't reached that stage yet?

SHPIGELSKY. But what are you imagining? . . . It's not a question of marriage, but of permission to come, to visit. . . .

RAKITIN. But whoever forbids it?

SHPIGELSKY. Forbids . . . what a thing to say! Of course, if it were anybody else ... but Bolshintsov's a shy man, a blessed innocent, straight out of the Golden Age, scarcely weaned from the feeding bottle. ... He has so little self-confidence, he needs some encouragement. While his intentions are most honourable.

RAKITIN. Yes, and his horses good.

SHPIGELSKY. And his horses are good. [Takes a pinch of snuff and offers the box to RAKITIN.] Won't you have some?

RAKITIN. No, thanks.

SHPIGELSKY. So that's how it is, Mihail Alexandritch. As you see, I don't want to deceive you. Indeed, why should I? The thing's perfectly clear and straightforward. A man of excellent principles, with property, quite harmless. ... If he suits--good. If he doesn't--well, they should say so.

RAKITIN. That's all very well, no doubt, but how do I come in? I really don't see what I can do about it.

SHPIGELSKY. Oh, Mihail Alexandritch! As though we don't know that Natalya Petrovna has a very great respect for you and even sometimes follows your advice. . . . Now do, Mihail Alexandritch [Puts his arm round him], be a friend, put in a word. . . .

RAKITIN. And you think this is a good husband for little Vera?