murmuring something to him in German. SCHAAF laughs and says in an undertone, 'Ja, ja, ja! ja wohl, ja wohl, sehr gut!']
SHPIGELSKY [dropping his voice]. This business, strictly speaking, does not concern you only. . . .
NATALYA PETROVNA [looking out into the garden]. What do you mean?
SHPIGELSKY. Well, it's like this. A good friend of mine has asked me to find out . . . that is ... your intentions in regard to your ward . . . Vera Alexandrovna. NATALYA PETROVNA. My intentions? SHPIGELSKY. That is ... to speak plainly . . my friend. . . .
NATALYA PETROVNA. You don't mean to say he wants to marry her?
SHPIGELSKY. Just so. NATALYA PETROVNA. Are you joking? SHPIGELSKY. Certainly not.
NATALYA PETROVNA [laughing]. Good gracious! She's a child; what a strange commission!
SHPIGELSKY. Strange, Natalya Petrovna? How so? My friend . . .
NATALYA PETROVNA. You're a great schemer, Shpigel-sky. And who is your friend?
SHPIGELSKY [smiling]. One minute. You haven't said anything definite yet in reply. . . .
NATALYA PETROVNA. Nonsense, Doctor. Vera is a child. You know that yourself, Monsieur le diplomate. [Turning round.] Why, here she is. [VERA and KOLYA run in from the outer room.]
KOLYA [runs up to RAKITIN]. Rakitin, some glue, tell them to give us some glue. . . .
NATALYA PETROVNA [to VERA]. Where have you been? [Strokes her cheek.] How flushed you are!
VERA. In the garden. . . . [SHPIGELSKY bows to her]. Good afternoon, Ignaty Ilyitch.
RAKITIN [to KOLYA]. What do you want with glue?
KOLYA. We must have it. ... Alexey Nikolaitch is making us a kite. . . . Ask for it. ... .
RAKITIN [is about to ring]. Very well. In a minute.
SCHAAF. Erlauben Sie. . . . Master Kolya has not learned his lesson to-day. . . . [Takes KOLYA'S hand.] Kommen Sie.
KOLYA [gloomily]. Morgen, Herr Schaaf, morgen. . . .
SCHAAF [sharply]. Morgen, morgen, nur nicht heute, sagen alle faule Leute.... Kommen Sie. [KOLYA resists.]
NATALYA PETROVNA [to VERA]. Whom have you been out with all this time? I've seen nothing of you all day.
VERA. With Alexey Nikolaitch . . . with Kolya. . . .
NATALYA PETROVNA. Ah! [Turning round.] Kolya, what's the meaning of this?
KOLYA [dropping his voice]. Mr. Schaaf. . . Maman. . .
RAKITIN [to NATALYA PETROVNA]. They are making a kite, and you see, it's time for a lesson.
SCHAAF [with a sense of dignity]. Gnadige Frau. . . .
NATALYA PETROVNA [severely, to KOLYA]. You have been playing about enough to-day, do you hear. Go along with Mr. Schaaf.
SCHAAF [leading KOLYA towards the outer room]. Es ist unerhort!
KOLYA [to RAKITIN in a whisper as he goes out]. Ask for the glue, all the same. . .. [RAKITIN nods.]
SCHAAF [pulling KOLYA]. Kommen sie, mein Herr. . . [Goes out with him. RAKITIN follows them out.]
NATALYA PETROVNA [to VERA]. Sit down . . . you must be tired. . . . [Sits down herself.]
VERA [sitting down]. Not at all, Natalya Petrovna. r
NATALYA PETROVNA [to SHPIGELSKY, with a smile]. Shpigelsky, look at her, she is tired, isn't she?
SHPIGELSKY. But that's good for Vera Alexandrovna, you know.
NATALYA PETROVNA. I don't say it's not. . . . [To VERA.] Well, what have you been doing in the garden?
VERA. Playing, running about. First we looked at the men digging the dam, then Alexey Nikolaitch climbed up a tree after a squirrel, ever so high, and began shaking the tree-top. ... It really frightened us. ... The squirrel dropped at last, and Tresor nearly caught it. ... But it got away.
NATALYA PETROVNA [glancing with a smile at SHPIGELSKY]. And then?
VERA. Then Alexey Nikolaitch made Kolya a bow . . and so quickly . . . and then he stole up to our cow in the meadow and all at once leapt on her back . .. and the cow was scared and set off running and kicking . . . and he laughed [Laughs herself] and then Alexey Nikolaitch wanted to make us a kite and so we came in.
NATALYA PETROVNA [pats her cheek]. Child, child, you are a perfect child.... What do you think, Shpigelsky?
SHPIGELSKY [slowly, looking at NATALYA PETROVNA]. I agree with you.
NATALYA PETROVNA. I should think so.
SHPIGELSKY. But that's no hindrance. . . . On the contrary . . .
NATALYA PETROVNA. You think so? [To VERA.] And you've been enjoying yourself?
VERA. Yes. . . . Alexey Nikolaitch is so amusing.
NATALYA PETROVNA. Oh, he is, is he? [.After a brief pause.] And, Vera, how old are you? [VERA looks at her with some surprise.] You're a child ... a child.
[RAKITIN comes in from the outer room.]
SHPIGELSKY [fussily]. Ah, I was forgetting . . . your coachman is ill ... and I haven't had a look at him yet. . . .
NATALYA PETROVNA. What's the matter with him?
SHPIGELSKY. He's feverish, but it's nothing serious.
NATALYA PETROVNA [calling after him]. You are dining with us, Doctor?
SHPIGELSKY. With your kind permission. [Goes out by centre door.]
NATALYA PETROVNA. Mon enfant, vous feriez bien de mettre une autre robe pour le diner. . . . [VERA gets up.] Come to me. . . . [Kisses her on the forehead.] Child. . . . Child. [VERA kisses her hand and goes towards door on right.]
RAKITIN [aside to VERA with a wink]. I've sent Alexey Nikolaitch all you need.
VERA [aside]. Thank you, Mihail Alexandritch. [Goes out.]
RAKITIN [goes up to NATALYA PETROVNA, she holds out her hand to him. He at once presses it]. At last, we are alone. Natalya Petrovna, tell me, what's the matter?
NATALYA PETROVNA. Nothing, Michel, nothing. And if there were, it's all over now. Sit down. [RAKITIN sits down beside her.] That happens to everybody. Clouds pass over the sky. Why do you look at me like that?
RAKITIN. I'm looking at you. ... I am happy. NATALYA PETROVNA [smiles in answer to him]. Open the window, Michel. How lovely it is in the garden! [RAKITIN gets up and opens the window.] How I welcome the wind! [Laughs.] It seems to have been waiting for a chance to burst in. ... [Looks round.] How completely it's taken possession of the room. . . . There's no turning it out now. . . .
