TUZENBAKH [kisses ANDREY]. Hang it all, let's have a drink. Andryusha, let's drink to our everlasting friendship. I'll go to the University in Moscow when you do, Andryusha.
SOLYONY. Which? There are two universities in Moscow.
ANDREY. There is only one university in Moscow.
SOLYONY. I tell you there are two.
ANDREY. There may be three for anything I care. So much the better.
SOLYONY. There are two universities in Moscow! [A murmur and hisses.] There are two universities in Moscow: the old one and the new one. And if you don't care to hear, if what I say irritates you, I can keep quiet. I can even go into another room [goes out at one of the doors].
TUZENBAKH. Bravo, bravo! [laughs] Ladies and gentlemen, let's begin, I'll sit down and play! Funny fellow that Solyony. . . . [Sits down to the piano and plays a waltz.]
MASHA [dances a waltz alone]. The baron is drunk, the baron is drunk, the baron is drunk.
[Enter NATASHA.]
NATASHA [to CHEBUTYKIN]. Ivan Romanitch! [Says something to CHEBUTYKIN, then goes out softly. CHEBUTYKIN touches TUZENBAKH on the shoulder and whispers something to him.]
IRINA. What is it?
CHEBUTYKIN. It's time we were going. Good night.
TUZENBAKH. Good night. It's time to be going.
IRINA. Excuse me. . . what about the Carnival party?
ANDREY [with embarrassment]. They won't be coming. You see, dear, Natasha says Bobik is not well, and so . . . In fact I know nothing about it, and don't care either.
IRINA [shrugs her shoulders]. Bobik isn't well!
MASHA. Well, it's not the first time we've had to lump it! If we're kicked out, we must go. [To IRINA] It's not Bobik that's ill, but she's a bit. . . [taps her forehead with her finger]. Petty, vulgar creature!
[ANDREY goes by door on right to his own room, CHEBUTYKIN following him; they are saying good-bye in the dining-room.]
FEDOTIK. What a pity! I was meaning to spend the evening, but of course if the child is ill . . . I'll bring him a toy tomorrow.
RODE [loudly]. I had a nap today after dinner on purpose, I thought I'd be dancing all night. . . . Why, it's only nine o'clock.
MASHA. Let's go outside; there we can talk. We'll decide what to do.
[Sounds of "Good-bye! Good night!" The good-humoured laugh of TUZENBAKH is heard. All go out. ANFISA and the maidservant clear the table and put out the light. There is the sound of the nanny singing. ANDREY in his hat and coat, and CHEBUTYKIN come in quietly.]
CHEBUTYKIN. I never had time to get married, because life has flashed by like lightning and because I was passionately in love with your mother, who was married.
ANDREY. A person shouldn't get married. You shouldn't, because it's boring.
CHEBUTYKIN. That's all very well, but what about loneliness? Say what you like, it's a dreadful thing to be lonely, my dear boy. . . . But no matter, though!
ANDREY. Come on, let's go.
CHEBUTYKIN. What's the hurry? We have plenty of time.
ANDREY. I am afraid my wife may stop me.
CHEBUTYKIN. Oh!
ANDREY. I'm not going to play today, I'll just sit and look on. I don't feel well. . . . What can you do, Ivan Romanitch, for shortness of breath?
CHEBUTYKIN. It's no use asking me! I don't remember, dear boy. . . . I don't know. . . .
ANDREY. Let's go through the kitchen. [They go out.]
[A ring, then another ring; there is a sound of voices and laughter.]
IRINA [enters]. What is it?
ANFISA [in a whisper]. The mummers, all dressed up [a ring].
IRINA. Nanny, dear, tell them there's no one at home. They must excuse us.
[ANFISA goes out. IRINA walks about the room in hesitation; she is excited. Enter SOLYONY.]
SOLYONY [in perplexity]. No one here. . . . Where are they all?
IRINA. They've gone home.
SOLYONY. How strange. Are you alone here?
IRINA. Yes [a pause]. Good night.
SOLYONY. I behaved tactlessly, without sufficient restraint just now. But you're not like other people, you're pure and noble, you see the truth. You alone can understand me. I love you, I love you deeply, infinitely.
IRINA. Good night! You must go.
SOLYONY. I can't live without you [following her]. Oh, my joy! [Through his tears] Oh, happiness! Those glorious, exquisite, marvellous eyes such as I have never seen in any other woman.
IRINA [coldly]. Don't, Vassily Vassilyitch!
SOLYONY. For the first time I am speaking of love to you, and I feel as though I were not on earth but on another planet [rubs his forehead]. Well, it doesn't matter. There is no forcing kindness, of course. . . . But there must be no successful rivals. . . . There must not. . . . I swear by all that is sacred I will kill any rival. . . . O exquisite being!
[NATASHA crosses the room with a candle.]
NATASHA [peeps in at one door, then at another and passes by the door that leads to her husband's room]. Andrey is there. Let him read. Excuse me, Vassily Vassilyitch, I didn't know you were here, and I'm in my dressing-gown. . . .
SOLYONY. I don't care. Good-bye! [Goes out.]
NATASHA. You are tired, my poor, dear little girl! [kisses IRINA]. You ought to go to bed earlier, . . .
IRINA. Is Bobik asleep?
NATASHA. He's asleep, but not sleeping quietly. By the way, dear, I keep meaning to speak to you, but either you are out or else I haven't the time. . . . I think Bobik's nursery is cold and damp. And your room is so nice for a baby. My sweet, my dear, you might move for a time into Olya's room!
IRINA [not understanding] . . . Where?
[The sound of a three-horse sleigh with bells driving up to the door.]
NATASHA. You would be in the same room with Olga, and Bobik in your room. He is such a darling. I said to him today, "Bobik, you are mine, you are mine!" and he looked at me with his funny little eyes. [A ring] That must be Olga. How late she is!
[The maid comes up to NATASHA and whispers in her ear.]
NATASHA. Protopopov? What a crazy fellow he is! Protopopov has come, and asks me to go out with him in his sleigh [laughs]. How strange men are! . . . [A ring] Somebody has come. I might go for a quarter of an hour. . . . [To the maid] Tell him I'll be right there. [A ring] You hear . . . it must be Olga [goes out].
[The maid runs out; IRINA sits lost in thought; KULYGIN, OLGA and VERSHININ come in.]
KULYGIN. Well, this is a surprise! They said they were going to have an evening party.
VERSHININ. Strange! And when I went away half an hour ago they were expecting the Carnival people. . . .
IRINA. They've all gone.
KULYGIN. Has Masha gone too? Where has she gone? And why is Protopopov waiting below with his sleigh? Whom is he waiting for?
IRINA. Don't ask questions. . . . I am tired.
KULYGIN. Oh, isn't she a bad little girl. . . .