Three Sisters

to drink, all the same. Angrily, but so that her husband should not hear. Another dull evening at the Director’s, confound it! Tuzenbach I shouldn’t go if I were you.⁠ ⁠… It’s quite simple. Chebutikin Don’t go. Masha Yes, “don’t go.⁠ ⁠…” It’s a cursed, unbearable life.⁠ ⁠… Goes into dining-room. Chebutikin Follows her. It’s not so bad. Soleni Going into the dining-room. There, there, there.⁠ ⁠… Tuzenbach Vassili Vassilevitch, that’s enough. Be quiet! Soleni There, there, there.⁠ ⁠… Kuligin 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. Vershinin 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. Irina Masha’s out of sorts today. 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. Olga Impatiently. Andrey, when are you coming? Andrey Off. One minute. Enters and goes to the table. Tuzenbach What are you thinking about? Irina I don’t like this Soleni of yours and I’m afraid of him. He only says silly things. Tuzenbach He’s a queer man. I’m sorry for him, though he vexes me. I think he’s shy. When there are just the two of us he’s quite all right and very good company; when other people are about he’s rough and hectoring. Don’t let’s go in, let them have their meal without us. Let me stay with you. What are you thinking of? Pause. You’re twenty. I’m not yet thirty. How many years are there left to us, with their long, long lines of days, filled with my love for you.⁠ ⁠… Irina Nicolai Lvovitch, don’t speak to me of love. Tuzenbach Does not hear. I’ve a great thirst for life, struggle, and work, and this thirst has united with my love for you, Irina, and you’re so beautiful, and life seems so beautiful to me! What are you thinking about? Irina You say that life is beautiful. Yes, if only it seems so! The life of us three hasn’t been beautiful yet; it has been stifling us as if it was weeds⁠ ⁠… I’m crying. I oughtn’t.⁠ ⁠… Dries her tears, smiles. We must work, work. That is why we are unhappy and look at the world so sadly; we don’t know what work is. Our parents despised work.⁠ ⁠… Enter Natalia Ivanova; she wears a pink dress and a green sash. Natasha They’re already at lunch⁠ ⁠… I’m late⁠ ⁠… Carefully examines herself in a mirror, and puts herself straight. I think my hair’s done all right.⁠ ⁠… Sees Irina. Dear Irina Sergeyevna, I congratulate you! Kisses her firmly and at length. You’ve so many visitors, I’m really ashamed.⁠ ⁠… How do you do, Baron! Olga Enters from dining-room. Here’s Natalia Ivanovna. How are you, dear! They kiss. Natasha Happy returns. I’m awfully shy, you’ve so many people here. Olga All our friends. Frightened, in an undertone. You’re wearing a green sash! My dear, you shouldn’t! Natasha Is it a sign of anything? Olga No, it simply doesn’t go well⁠ ⁠… and it looks so queer. Natasha In a tearful voice. Yes? But it isn’t really green, it’s too dull for that. Goes into dining-room with Olga. They have all sat down to lunch in the dining-room, the sitting-room is empty. Kuligin I wish you a nice fiancée, Irina. It’s quite time you married. Chebutikin Natalia Ivanovna, I wish you the same. Kuligin Natalia Ivanovna has a fiancé already. Masha Raps with her fork on a plate. Let’s all get drunk and make life purple for once! Kuligin You’ve lost three good conduct marks. Vershinin This is a nice drink. What’s it made of? Soleni Blackbeetles. Irina Tearfully. Phoo! How disgusting! Olga There is to be a roast turkey and a sweet apple pie for dinner. Thank goodness I can spend all day and the evening at home. You’ll come in the evening, ladies and gentlemen.⁠ ⁠… Vershinin And please may I come in the evening! Irina Please do. Natasha They don’t stand on ceremony here. Chebutikin Nature only brought us into the world that we should love! Laughs. Andrey Angrily. Please don’t! Aren’t you tired of it? Enter Fedotik and Rode with a large basket of flowers. Fedotik They’re lunching already. Rode Loudly and thickly. Lunching? Yes, so they are.⁠ ⁠… Fedotik Wait a minute! Takes a photograph. That’s one. No, just a moment.⁠ ⁠… Takes another. That’s two. Now we’re ready! They take the basket and go into the dining-room, where they have a noisy reception. Rode Loudly. Congratulations and best wishes! Lovely weather today, simply perfect. Was out walking with the high school students all the morning. I take their drills. Fedotik You may move, Irina Sergeyevna! Takes a photograph. You look well today. Takes a humming-top out of his pocket. Here’s a humming-top, by the way. It’s got a lovely note! Irina How awfully nice! Masha

“There stands a green oak by the sea,
And a chain of bright gold is around it⁠ ⁠…
And a chain of bright gold is around it⁠ ⁠…”

Tearfully. What am I saying that for? I’ve had those words running in my head all day.⁠ ⁠…

Kuligin There are thirteen at table! Rode Aloud. Surely you don’t believe in that superstition? Laughter. Kuligin If there are thirteen at table then it means there are lovers present. It isn’t you, Ivan Romanovitch, hang it all.⁠ ⁠… Laughter. Chebutikin I’m a hardened sinner, but I really don’t see why Natalia Ivanovna should blush.⁠ ⁠… Loud laughter; Natasha runs out into the sitting-room, followed by Andrey. Andrey Don’t pay any attention to them! Wait⁠ ⁠… do stop, please.⁠ ⁠… Natasha I’m shy⁠ ⁠… I don’t know what’s the matter with me and they’re all laughing at me. It wasn’t nice of me to leave the table like that, but I can’t⁠ ⁠… I can’t. Covers her face with her hands. Andrey My dear, I beg you. I implore you not to excite yourself. I assure you they’re only joking, they’re