Page:Plays by Anton Tchekoff (1916).djvu/227

ACT IV

denly plucked from me then, and I seem now to have lived in this world for ninety years. I have called out to you, I have kissed the ground you walked on, wherever I looked I have seen your face before my eyes, and the smile that had illumined for me the best years of my life.

. [Despairingly] Why, why does he talk to me like this?

. I am quite alone, unwarmed by any attachment. Iam as cold as if I were living ina cave. Whatever I write is dry and gloomy and harsh. Stay here, Nina, I beseech you, or else let me go away with you.

quickly puts on her coat and hat.

. Nina, why do you do that? For God’s sake, Nina!

[He watches her as she dresses. A pause.

. My carriage is at the gate. Do not come out to see me off. I shall find the way alone. [Weeping] Let me have some water.

hands her a glass of water.

. Where are you going?

. Back to the village. Is your mother here?

. Yes, my uncle fell ill on Thursday, and we telegraphed for her to come.

. Why do you say that you have kissed the ground I walked on? You should kill me rather. [She bends over the table] I am so tired. If I could only rest—rest. [She raises her head] I am a sea-gull—no—no, I am an actress. [She hears and  laughing in the distance, runs to the door on the left and looks through the keyhole] He is there too. [She goes back to ] Ah, well—no matter. He does not believe in the theatre; he used to laugh at my dreams, so that little by little I became down-hearted and ceased to believe in it too. Then came all the cares of love, the con-