A Month in the Country

RAKITIN [after a brief pause]. I think so.

NATALYA PETROVNA [dropping her eyes]. Well, what did you do at the Krinitsyns'?

RAKITIN. Nothing. Being bored with friends is an awful thing; you are at ease, you are not constrained, you like them, there's nothing to irritate you, and yet you are bored, and there's a silly ache, like hunger, in your heart.

NATALYA PETROVNA. You must often have been bored with friends.

RAKITIN. As though you don't know what it is to be with a person whom one loves and who bores one!

NATALYA PETROVNA [slowly]. Whom one loves, that's saying a great deal. . . . You are too subtle to-day. . . .

RAKITIN. Subtle. . . . Why subtle?

NATALYA PETROVNA. Yes, that's a weakness of yours. Do you know, Rakitin, you are very clever, of course, but . . . [Pausing] sometimes we talk as though we were making lace. . . . Have you seen people making lace? In stuffy rooms, never moving from their seats. . . . Lace is a fine thing, but a drink of fresh water on a hot day is much better.

RAKITIN. Natalya Petrovna, you are . . .

NATALYA PETROVNA. What?

RAKITIN. You are cross with me about something.

NATALYA PETROVNA. Oh, you clever people, how blind you are, though you are so subtle! No, I'm not cross with you.

ANNA SEMYONOVNA. Ah! at last, he has lost the trick! [To NATALYA PETROVNA.] Natasha, our enemy has lost the trick!

SCHAAF [sourly]. It's Lizaveta Bogdanovna's fault.

LIZAVETA BOGDANOVNA [angrily]. I beg your pardon--how could I tell Anna Semyonovna had no hearts?

SCHAAF. In future I call not on Lizaveta Bogdanovna.

ANNA SEMYONOVNA [to SCHAAF]. Why, how is she, Lizaveta Bogdanovna, to blame?

SCHAAF [repeats in exactly the same tone of voice]. In future I call not on Lizaveta Bogdanovna.

LIZAVETA BOGDANOVNA. As though I care! What next! . . .

RAKITIN. You look somehow different, I see that more and more.

NATALYA PETROVNA [with a shade of curiosity]. Do you mean it?

RAKITIN. Yes, really. I find a change in you.

NATALYA PETROVNA. Yes?... If that's so, please. . . . You know me so well--guess what the change is, what has happened to me . . . will you?

RAKITIN. Well. . . . Give me time. . . . [Suddenly KOL YA runs in noisily from the outer room and straight up to ANNA SEMYONOVNA.]

KOLYA. Granny, Granny! Do look what I've got! [Shows her a bow and arrows.] Look!

ANNA SEMYONOVNA. Show me, darling. ... Oh what a splendid bow! Who made it for you?

KOLYA. He did ... he. ... [Points to BELIAYEV, who has remained at the door.]

ANNA SEMYONOVNA. Oh! but how well it's made. . . .

KOLYA. I shot at a tree with it, Granny, and hit it twice. . . . [Skips about.]

NATALYA PETROVNA. Show me, Kolya.

KOLYA [runs to her and while NATALYA PETROVNA is examining the bow]. Oh, maman, you should see how Alexey Nikolaitch climbs trees! He wants to teach me and he's going to teach me to swim too. He's going to teach me all sorts of things. [Skips about.]

NATALYA PETROVNA. It is very good of you to do so much for Kolya.

KOLYA [interrupting her, warmly]. I do like him, maman, I love him.

NATALYA PETROVNA [stroking KOLYA'S head]. He has been too softly brought up. ... Make him a sturdy, active boy.

[BELIAYEV bows.]

KOLYA. Alexey Nikolaitch, let's go to the stable and take Favourite some bread.

BELIAYEV. Very well.

ANNA SEMYONOVNA [to KOLYA]. Come here and give me a kiss first. . . .

KOLYA [running off]. Afterwards, Granny, afterwards! [Runs into the outer room; BELIAYEV goes out after him.]

ANNA SEMYONOVNA [looking after KOLYA]. What a darling boy! [To SCHAAF and LIZAVETA BOGDANOVNA.] Isn't he?

LIZAVETA BOGDANOVNA. To be sure he is.

SCHAAF [after a brief pause]. Pass.

NATALYA PETROVNA [with some eagerness to RAKITIN]. Well, how does he strike you?

RAKITIN. Who?

NATALYA PETROVNA [pausing]. That. . . Russian tutor.

RAKITIN. Oh, I beg your pardon--I'd forgotten him. ... I was so absorbed by the question you asked me. . . . [NATALYA PETROVNA looks at him with a faintly perceptible smile of irony.] But his face . . . certainly. . . . Yes, he has a good face. I like him. Only he seems very shy.

NATALYA PETROVNA. Yes.

RAKITIN [looking at her]. But anyway I can't quite make out . . .

NATALYA PETROVNA. How if we were to look after him a bit, Rakitin? Will you? Let us finish his education. Here is a splendid opportunity for discreet sensible people like you and me! We are very sensible, aren't we?

RAKITIN. This young man interests you. If he knew it... he'd be flattered.

NATALYA PETROVNA. Oh, not a bit, believe me! You can't judge him by what. . . anyone like us would feel in his place. You see he's not at all like us, Rakitin. That's where we go wrong, my dear, we study ourselves very carefully and then imagine we understand human nature.

RAKITIN. The heart of another is a dark forest. But what are you hinting at? . . . Why do you keep on sticking pins into me?

NATALYA PETROVNA. Whom is one to stick pins into if not one's friends? . . . And you are my friend. . . . You know that. [Presses his hand. RAKITIN smiles and beams.] You are my old friend.

RAKITIN. I'm only afraid . . . you may get sick of the old friend.

NATALYA PETROVNA [laughing]. It's only very nice things one takes enough of for that.

RAKITIN. Perhaps. But that doesn't make it any better for them.

NATALYA PETROVNA. Nonsense. . . . [Dropping her voice.] As though you don't know ce que vous etes pour moi.

RAKITIN. Natalya Petrovna, you play with me like a cat with a mouse. . . . But the mouse does not complain.

NATALYA PETROVNA. Oh! poor little mouse!

ANNA SEMYONOVNA. That's twenty from you, Adam Ivanitch. . . . Aha!

SCHAAF. In future I call not on Lizaveta Bogdanovna.

MATVEY [enters and announces]. Ignaty Ilyitch.

SHPIGELSKY [following him in]. Doctors don't need showing in. [Exit MATVEY.] My humblest respects to all the family. [Kisses ANNA SEMYONOVNA'S hand.] How do you do, gracious lady. Winning, I expect?