Mme. Ranevskaya: Yes, my nerves are better, that's true. She is handed her hat and coat. I sleep well. Carry out my things, Yasha. It's time. To Anya. We shall soon see each other again, my little girl. I'm going to Paris, I'll live there on the money your great-aunt sent us to buy the estate with—long live Auntie! But that money won't last long.
Anya: You'll come back soon, soon, mamma, won't you? Meanwhile I'll study, I'll pass my high school ex- amination, and then I'll go to work and help you. We'll read all kinds of books together, mamma, won't we? Kisses her mothers hands. We'll read in the autumn evenings, we'll read lots of books, and a new wonderful world wiU open up before us. FaUs into a revery.
Mamma, do come back.
Mme. R.ANEVSKAYA: I will come back, my precious. Embraces her daughter. Enter Lop^un and C^^- LOTI'A who is humming softly.
GAYEv: Charlotta's happy: she's singing.
CHARLOTI'A, picks up a bundle and holds it like a baby in swadding-clothes: Bye, baby, bye. A baby is heard crying "Wah! Wah!" Hush, hush, my pet, my little one. "Wah! Wah!" I'm so sorry for you! Throws the bundle down. You wil! find me a position, won't you? I can't go on like this.
Lopamn: We'll find one for you, Charlotta Iva- novna, don't worry.
Gayev: Everyone's leaving us. Varya's going away. We've suddenly become of no use.
CHARLOTI'A: There's no place for me to live in town, I must go away. Hums.
Enter Pishchik.
LoPAHIN: There's nature's masterpiece!
PiSHCHIK, gasping: Oh . . • let me get my breath . . . I'm in agony. . . . Esteemed friends . . . Give me a drink of water. . . .
GAYEv: Wants some money, I suppose. No, thank you . . . I'll keep out of harm's way. Exits.
PiSHCHIK: It's a long while since I've been to see you, most charming lady. To LoPAHiN. So you are here . . . glad to see you, you intellectual giant . . . There . . . Gives Lopa^k money. Here's 400 rubles, and I still owe you 840.
Lopahin, shrugging his shoulders in bewilderment: I must be dreaming . . . Where did you get it? .
Pishchik: Wait a minute . . . It's hot . . . A most extraordinary event! Some Englishmen came to my place and found some sort of white clay on my land . . .
To M^. RANEVSKAYA. And 400 for you . . . most lovely . . . most wonderful . . . Ilands her the money. The rest later. Drinks water. A young man in the train was telling me just now that a great philosopher recom- mends jumping off roofs. "Jump!" says he; "that's the long and the short of it!" In amazement. Just imagine! Some more water!
LoPAiIIN: What Englishmen?
PiSHCHIK: I leased them the tract with the clay on it for twenty-four years. . . . And now, forgive me, I can't stay. ... I must be dashing on. . . . I'm going over to Znoikov . • . to Kardamanov ... I owe them all money . . . Drinks water. Good-by, everybody . . • I'll look in on Thursday . . .
Mme. RANEVSKAYA: \Ve're just moving into town; and tomorrow I go abroad.
PiSHCHIK, upset: What? Why into town? That's why the furniture is like that . . . and the suitcases . . . Well, never mind! Through tears. Never mind . . . Men of colossal intellect, these Englishmen . . . Never mind . . . Be happy. God will come to your help . . . Never mind . . . Everything in this world comes to an end. Kisses Mme. Ranevskaya's hand. If the rumor reaches you that it's all up with me, remember this old . . . horse, and say: Once there lived a certain . . . Simeonov-Pishchik . . . the kingdom of Heaven be his . . . Glorious weather! . . . Yes . . . Exits, in great confusion, but at once returns and says in the doorway: My daughter Dashenka sends her regards. Exit.
Mme. Ranevskaya: Now we can go. I leave with two cares weighing on me. The first is poor old Firs. Glancing at her watch. We still have about five minutes.
Anya: Mamma, Firs has already been taken to the hospital. Yasha sent ^rn there this morning.
Mme. RANEVSKAYA: My other worry is Varya. She's used to getting up early and working; and now, with no work to do, she is like a fish out of water. She has grownwn thin and pale, and keeps crying, poor soul. Pause. You know this very well, Yermolay Alexeyevich; I dreamed of seeing her married to you, and it looked as though that's how it would be. Whispers to .ANYA, who nods to CHARLOTTA and both go out. She loves you. You find her attiactive. I don't know, I don't know why it is you seem to avoid each other; I can't understand it.
LopAHiN: To tell you the truth, I don't understand it myself. It's all a puzzle. If there's still time, I'm ready now, at once. Let's settle it straight off, and have done with it! Without you, I feel I'll never be able to propose.
Mme. RANEVSKAYA: That's splendid. After all, it will only take a minute. I'll call her at once. . . .
Lop^hn: And luckily, here's champagne too. Looks at the glasses. Empty! Somebody's drunk it all. YASHA coughs. That's what you might call guzzling . . .
Mme. Ranevskaya, animatedly: Excellent! We'll go and leave you alone. Yasha, allez! I'll call her. At the door. Varya, leave everything and come here. Come! Exits with YAsHA.
Lop^^, looking at his watch: Yes . . . Pause be- hind the door, smothered laughter and whispering; at lart, enter Varya.
VARYA, looking over the luggage in leisurely fashion: Strange, I can't find it ...
LoPAJUN: What are you looking for?
Varya: Packed it myself, and I don't remember . . . Pause.
LoPAIUN: Where are you going now, Varya?
VARYA: I? To the Ragulins'. I've arranged to take ^arge there—as housekeeper, if you like.
Lop^mn: At Yashnevo? About fifty miles from here. Pame. Well, life in this house is ended!
Varya, examining luggage: Where is it? Perhaps I put it in the chest. Yes, life in this house is ended • . • There will be no more of it.
LoPAHIN: And I'm just off to Kharkov—by this next train. I've a lot to do there. I'm leaving Yepihodov here . • . I've taken him on.
VARYA: Oh!
LoPAHIN: Last year at this time it was snowing, if you remember, but now it's sunny and there's no wind. It's cold, though . . . It must be three below.
Varya: I didn't look. Pause. And besides, our ther- mometer's broken. Pame. Voice from the yard: "Yermo- lay Alexeyevichl"
Lopahin, as if he had been waiting for the calclass="underline" This minute! Exit quickly. Varya sits on the floor and sobs quietly, her head on a bundle of clothes. Enter M^. ^^evskaya cautiously.
^^re. Ranevskaya: Well? Pame. We must be going.
Varya, wiping her eyes: Yes, it's time, mamma dear. I'U be able to get to the Ragulins' today, if only we don't miss the train.
Mme. Ranevskaya, at the door: Anya, put your things on. Enter Anya, Gayev, Charlocta. Gayev wears a heavy overcoat with a hood. Enter servants and coachmen. YEPiHOI>Ov bustles about the luggage.