Page:Plays by Anton Tchekoff (1916).djvu/197

ACT II

there, and have lived all my life beside this lake. I know every little island in it.

. This is a beautiful place to live. [He catches sight of the dead sea-gull] What is that?

. A gull. Constantine shot it.

. What a lovely bird! Really, I can’t bear to go away. Can’t you persuade Irina to stay?

[He writes something in his note-book.

. What are you writing?

. Nothing much, only an idea that occurred to me. [He puts the book back in his pocket] An idea for a short story. A young girl grows up on the shores of a lake, as you have. She loves the lake as the gulls do, and is as happy and free as they. But a man sees her who chances to come that way, and he destroys her out of idleness, as this gull here has been destroyed.

[A pause. appears at one of the windows.

. Boris! Where are you?

. I am coming this minute.

He goes toward the house, looking back at remains at the window.

. What do you want?

. We are not going away, after all.

goes into the house. comes forward and stands lost in thought.

. It is a dream!