Page:Plays by Anton Tchekoff (1916).djvu/115

ACT II

honoured Zinaida! Oh, glorious Martha! Most ancient Avdotia! Noblest of Counts!

. [Laughing] The life of the company! The moment he comes in the air feels livelier. Have you noticed it?

. Whew! I am tired! I believe I have shaken hands with everybody. Well, ladies and gentlemen, haven’t you some little tid-bit to tell me; something spicy? [Speaking quickly to ] Oh, aunty! I have something to tell you. As I was on my way here—[To ] Some tea, please Gabriel, but without jam—as I was on my way here I saw some peasants down on the river-bank pulling the bark off the trees. Why don’t you lease that meadow?

. [To ] Why don’t you send that Judas away?

. [Startled] Why, that is quite true! I never thought of it.

. [Swinging his arms] I can’t sit still! What tricks shall we be up to next, aunty? I am all on edge, Martha, absolutely exalted. [He sings]

. Think of something to amuse us, Misha, we are all bored.

. Yes, you look so. What is the matter with you all? Why are you sitting there as solemn as a jury? Come, let us play something; what shall it be? Forfeits? Hide-and-seek? Tag? Shall we dance, or have the fireworks?

. [Clapping their hands] The fireworks! The fireworks!

[They run into the garden.

. [To ] What makes you so depressed to-day?