Ivanov

Can you tell funny stories? Lvov No. Anna Petrovna Nikolay can. And I begin to be surprised at people’s injustice. Why don’t they return love for love, and why do they repay truth with falsehood? Tell me, how long will my father and mother hate me? They live forty miles from here, but day and night, even in my sleep, I feel their hatred. And what would you have me make of Nikolay’s depression? He says that he doesn’t love me only in the evenings, when he is overwhelmed with depression. That I understand and can allow for. But only imagine if he should tire of me altogether! Of course it’s impossible, but⁠—if he did? No, no, I must not even think about it. Sings. Greenfinch, greenfinch, where have you been?⁠ ⁠… starts. What dreadful ideas come into my mind! You are not married, doctor, and there are many things you can’t understand.⁠ ⁠… Lvov You are surprised⁠ ⁠… sits down beside her. No, I⁠ ⁠… I am surprised⁠—I am surprised at you! Come, explain, make me understand, how is it that you, intelligent, honest, almost a saint, have allowed yourself to be so shamelessly deceived and dragged into this owl’s nest? Why are you here? What have you in common with this cold, soulless⁠ ⁠… but let us leave your husband out! What have you in common with these vulgar, empty surroundings? Oh, good heavens!⁠ ⁠… that everlastingly grumbling, rusty, mad Count, that knave Misha⁠—a scoundrel if ever there was one⁠—with his revolting countenance.⁠ ⁠… Explain to me what you are here for. How did you come here? Anna Petrovna Laughs. That’s just how he used once to talk. Word for word.⁠ ⁠… But his eyes are larger, and when he began talking of anything with excitement they glowed like coals.⁠ ⁠… Go on, go on! Lvov Gets up with a wave of his hand. What am I to say? Go indoors! Anna Petrovna You say that Nikolay is this and that, one thing and another. How do you know him? Do you suppose that you can get to know a man in six months? He is a remarkable man, doctor, and I am sorry that you did not meet him two or three years ago. Now he is depressed and melancholy, he doesn’t talk or do anything; but in the old days⁠ ⁠… how charming he was! I loved him at first sight laughs. I looked and the mousetrap went bang! He said “Come”⁠ ⁠… I cut off everything as, you know, one cuts off dead leaves with scissors, and followed him a pause. But now it is different. Now he goes to the Lebedyevs to distract his mind with other women, while I⁠ ⁠… sit in the garden and listen to the owl screeching⁠ ⁠… A watchman’s tap. And have you any brothers, doctor? Lvov No. Anna Petrovna breaks into sobs. Lvov Well, what now? What’s the matter? Anna Petrovna Gets up. I can’t bear it, doctor⁠ ⁠… I am going.⁠ ⁠… Lvov Where he is⁠ ⁠… I am going. Tell them to put the horses in runs into the house. Lvov No, I must absolutely decline to treat a patient under such conditions! It’s not enough that they don’t pay me a farthing, but they turn my soul inside out as well!⁠ ⁠… No, I decline! It’s too much⁠ ⁠… goes into the house.

Curtain.

Act II

A drawing-room in Lebedyev’s house; facing the stage a door into the garden; doors on right and left. Old-fashioned expensive furniture. A chandelier, candelabras, and pictures⁠—all under covers.

Zinaida Savishna, Kossih, Avdotya Nazarovna, Yegorushka, Gavril, a Maidservant, Old Lady Visitors, Young People, and Madame Babakin.

Zinaida Savishna is sitting on the sofa. Old Ladies are sitting in armchairs on either side of her, and Young People on ordinary chairs. In the background, near the way out into the garden, they are playing cards; among the players are Kossih, Avdotya Nazarovna and Yegorushka. Gavril is standing by the door on right; a Maidservant carries round a tray full of sweets. Throughout the act Guests pass across the stage from the garden to door on right and back again. Madame Babakin comes in from door on right and goes up to Zinaida Savishna.

Zinaida	Joyfully. My darling Marfa Yegorovna!
Madame Babakin	How are you, Zinaida Savishna? I have the honour to congratulate you on your daughter’s birthday. They kiss. God grant that⁠ ⁠…
Zinaida	Thank you, darling, I am so glad.⁠ ⁠… Well, how are you?
Madame Babakin	Thank you very much indeed sits down beside her on the sofa. How do you do, young people?
	The Guests get up and bow.
First Guest	Laughs. Young people!⁠ ⁠… Why, are you old, then?
Madame Babakin	With a sigh. Well, I am sure I don’t claim to be young.⁠ ⁠…
First Guest	Laughing respectfully. Upon my word, what next! You don’t look like a widow; you can give points to any young girl.
	Gavril hands Madame Babakin tea.
Zinaida	To Gavril. Why do you bring it like that? Fetch some jam. Gooseberry or something.
Madame Babakin	Please don’t trouble. Thanks ever so much.⁠ ⁠…
	A pause.
First Guest	Did you drive through Mushkino, Marfa Yegorovna?
Madame Babakin	No, through Zaimishtche. The road is better that way.
First Guest	To be sure.
Kossih	Two spades.
Yegorushka	Pass.
Avdotya	Pass.
Second Guest	Pass.
Madame Babakin	Lottery tickets have gone up shockingly, Zinaida Savishna, darling. It’s unheard of: the first drawings are worth two hundred and seventy and the second nearly two hundred and fifty. It has never been so much before.⁠ ⁠…
Zinaida	Sighs. It’s a good thing for those who have plenty of them.
Madame Babakin	Don’t say that, darling. Though the price is so high, it does not pay to put one’s money into them. The insurance alone is enough to drive you crazy.
Zinaida	That may be so; but still, my dear, one has hopes⁠ ⁠… she sighs. God is merciful.
Third Guest	From my point of view, mesdames, I