Page:Plays by Anton Tchekoff (1916).djvu/29

ACT I and  come in; after them comes  ''carrying a book. She sits down and begins to read. Some one hands her a glass of tea which she drinks without looking up''.

. [Hurriedly, to the nurse] There are some peasants waiting out there. Go and see what they want. I shall pour the tea.

[Pours out some glasses of tea.

goes out. takes a glass and sits drinking in the hammock.

. I have come to see your husband. You wrote me that he had rheumatism and I know not what else, and that he was very ill, but he appears to be as lively as a cricket.

. He had a fit of the blues yesterday evening and complained of pains in his legs, but he seems all right again to-day.

. And I galloped over here twenty miles at break-neck speed! No matter, though, it is not the first time. Once here, however, I am going to stay until to-morrow, and at any rate sleep quantum satis.

. Oh, splendid! You so seldom spend the night with us. Have you had dinner yet?

. No.

. Good. So you will have it with us. We dine at seven now. [Drinks her tea] This tea is cold!

. Yes, the samovar has grown cold.

. Don’t mind, Monsieur Ivan, we will drink cold tea, then.

. I beg your pardon, my name is not Ivan, but Ilia, ma’am—Ilia Telegin, or Waffles, as I am sometimes called on account of my pock-marked face. I am Sonia’s godfather, and his Excellency, your husband, knows me very well, I now live with you, ma’am, on this estate, and per-