Page:Plays by Anton Tchekoff (1916).djvu/165



The scene is laid in the park on ''estate. A broad avenue of trees leads away from the audience toward a lake which lies lost in the depths of the park. The avenue is obstructed by a rough stage, temporarily erected for the performance of amateur theatricals, and which screens the lake from view. There is a dense growth of bushes to the left and right of the stage. A few chairs and a little table are placed in front of the stage. The sun has just set''. and some other workmen are heard hammering and coughing on the stage behind the lowered curtain.

and come in from the left, returning from a walk.

. Why do you always wear mourning?

. I dress in black to match my life. I am unhappy.

Why should you be unhappy? [Thinking it over] I don’t understand it. You are healthy, and though your father is not rich, he has a good competency. My life is far harder than yours. I only have twenty-three roubles a month to live on, but I don’t wear mourning.

[They sit down.

. Happiness does not depend on riches; poor men are often happy.

. In theory, yes, but not in reality. Take my case, for instance; my mother, my two sisters, my little brother and I must all live somehow on my salary of twenty