A Month in the Country

BELIAYEV. Yes, a long time.

NATALYA PETROVNA. But you remember her?

BELIAYEV. Oh yes ... I remember her.

NATALYA PETROVNA. And does your father live in Moscow?

BELIAYEV. Oh no, in the country.

NATALYA PETROVNA. And have you any brothers and sisters?

BELIAYEV. One sister. NATALYA PETROVNA. Are you fond of her? BELIAYEV. Yes. She's much younger than I am. NATALYA PETROVNA. And what's her name? BELIAYEV. Natalya.

NATALYA PETROVNA [eagerly]. Natalya! How odd! I'm Natalya too! . . . [Pauses.] And you are very fond of her?

BELIAYEV. Yes.

NATALYA PETROVNA. Tell me what do you think of my Kolya?

BELIAYEV. He is a dear boy.

NATALYA PETROVNA. He is, isn't he? And so affectionate. He's devoted to you already.

BELIAYEV. I'll do my best. . . . I'm glad.

NATALYA PETROVNA. You see, Alexey Nikolaitch, of of course I should like to make him a thoroughly able man--I don't know whether I shall succeed in that, but anyway I want him to look back on his childhood with pleasure. Let him grow up in freedom, that's the great thing. I was brought up very differently, Alexey Nikolaitch; my father was not an unkind man, but he was stern and irritable; everyone in the house, including my mother, was afraid of him. My brother and I used to cross ourselves in terror whenever we were summoned to his room. Sometimes my father would pet me, but even in his arms I was in a panic. My brother grew up, and you may perhaps have heard of his rupture with my father. ... I shall never forget that awful day. ... I remained an obedient daughter up to my father's death. . . . He used to call me his consolation, his Antigone (he was blind for some years before his death) ... but however tender he was he could never make me forget those early impressions. ... I was afraid of him, a blind old man, and never felt at ease in his presence. The traces of timidity, of those years of repression, haven't perhaps quite disappeared even now.... I know that at first sight I seem ... how shall I say? . . . frigid, perhaps. . . . But I notice I'm talking to you about myself, instead of talking about Kolya. I only meant to say that I know from my own experience how good it is for a child to grow up in freedom. You now, I imagine, have never been repressed as a child, have you?

BELIAYEV. I don't know really. . . . Of course nobody repressed me, nobody bothered about me.

NATALYA PETROVNA [shyly]. Why, didn't your father....

BELIAYEV. He'd no time to spare. He was always going round among the neighbours ... on business ... or if not business exactly. . . . He got his living through them, in a way. . . . By his services. . . .

NATALYA PETROVNA. Oh! So then nobody troubled about bringing you up?

BELIAYEV. As a matter of fact, nobody did. I dare say that's evident though, I'm only too aware of my defects.

NATALYA PETROVNA. Perhaps ... but on the other hand. . . . [Checks herself and adds in some embarrassment.] Oh, by the way, Alexey Nikolaitch, was that you singing in the garden yesterday?

BELIAYEV. When?

NATALYA PETROVNA. In the evening ... by the pond . .. was it you?

BELIAYEV. Yes. [Hurriedly.] I didn't think . . . the pond is such a long way off. ... I didn't think it could be heard from here.

NATALYA PETROVNA. Are you apologizing? You have a very pleasant musical voice and you sing so well. You have studied music?

BELIAYEV. No, not at all. I only sing by ear ... only simple songs.

NATALYA PETROVNA. You sing them capitally. ... I'll ask you some time . . . not just now, but when we know each other better, when we are friends. . . . We are going to be friends, Alexey Nikolaitch, aren't we? I feel confidence in you; the way I've been chattering is a proof of it. . . . [She holds out her hand for him to shake hands. BELIAYEV takes it irresolutely and after some hesitation, not knowing what to do with the hand, kisses it. NATALYA PETROVNA flushes and draws away her hand. At that moment SHPIGELSKY comes in from the outer room, stops short, then takes a step forward, NATALYA PETROVNA gets up quickly, BELIAYEV does the same.] NATALYA PETROVNA [embarrassed]. Oh, it's you, Doctor . . . here Alexey Nikolaitch and I have been having

. . . [Stops.]

SHPIGELSKY [in a loud, free and easy voice]. Really, Natalya Petrovna, the goings on in your house! I walk into the servants' hall and ask for the sick coachman, and my patient is sitting at the table gobbling up pancake and onion. Much good it is being a doctor and relying on illness for getting a living.

NATALYA PETROVNA [with a constrained smile]. Really. [BELIAYEV is about to go away.] Alexey Nikolaitch, I forgot to tell you . . .

VERA [running in from the outer room]. Alexey Nikolaitch! Alexey Nikolaitch! [She stops abruptly at the sight of NATALYA PETROVNA.]

NATALYA PETROVNA [with some surprise]. What is it?

What do you want?

VERA [blushing and dropping her eyes, indicates BELIAYEV].

He is wanted.

NATALYA PETROVNA. By whom?

VERA. Kolya . . . that is Kolya asked me . . . about the kite. . ..

NATALYA PETROVNA. Oh! [Aside to VERA.] On n'entre pas comme cela dans une chambre. . . . Cela ne convient pas. [Turning to SHPIGELSKY.] What time is it, Doctor? Your watch is always right. . . . It's time for dinner.

SHPIGELSKY. Allow me. [Takes out his watch.] It is just... I beg to inform you . . . just exactly twenty minutes past four.

NATALYA PETROVNA. There, you see, it's dinner-time. [Goes to the looking-glass and tidies her hair. Meanwhile VERA whispers something to BELIAYEV. Both laugh. NATALYA PETROVNA sees them reflected in the looking-glass. SHPIGELSKY gives her a sidelong look.]

BELIAYEV [laughing, in a low voice]. Really?

VERA [nodding and speaking in a low voice too]. Yes, yes, she just went flop.

NATALYA PETROVNA [turning with assumed indifference to VERA]. What? Who went flop?

VERA [in confusion]. Oh no ... Alexey Nikolaitch made us a swing, and so nurse took it into her head . . .

NATALYA PETROVNA [without waiting for her to finish, turns to SHPIGELSKY]. Oh, by the way, Shpigelsky, come here. . . . [She draws him aside and speaks again to VERA.] She wasn't hurt, I hope?

VERA. Oh, no!

NATALYA PETROVNA. But ... all the same, Alexey Nikolaitch, you shouldn't have done it.

MATVEY [enters from the outer room and announces]. Dinner is served.

NATALYA PETROVNA. Ah! But where is Arkady Sergey-itch? They'll be late again, he and Mihail Alexandritch.

MATVEY. The gentlemen are in the dining-room.

NATALYA PETROVNA. And mother?

MATVEY. Madam is in the dining-room too.

NATALYA PETROVNA. Well, then, come along. [Motioning to BELIAYEV.] Vera, allez en avant avec monsieur.

[MATVEY goes out, followed by VERA and BELIAYEV. SHPIGELSKY [to NATALYA PETROVNA]