I bought some coloured pencils for you at Pizhikov’s in the Moscow Road, just now. And here is a little knife. Irina You have got into the habit of behaving to me as if I am a little girl, but I am grown up. Takes the pencils and the knife, then, with joy. How lovely! Fedotik And I bought myself a knife⁠ ⁠… look at it⁠ ⁠… one blade, another, a third, an ear-scoop, scissors, nail-cleaners. Rode Loudly. Doctor, how old are you? Chebutikin I? Thirty-two. Laughter. Fedotik I’ll show you another kind of patience.⁠ ⁠… Lays out cards. A samovar is brought in; Anfisa attends to it; a little later Natasha enters and helps by the table; Soleni arrives and, after greetings, sits by the table. Vershinin What a wind! Masha Yes. I’m tired of winter. I’ve already forgotten what summer’s like. Irina It’s coming out, I see. We’re going to Moscow. Fedotik No, it won’t come out. Look, the eight was on the two of spades. Laughs. That means you won’t go to Moscow. Chebutikin Reading paper. Tsitsigar. Smallpox is raging here. Anfisa Coming up to Masha. Masha, have some tea, little mother. To Vershinin. Please have some, sir⁠ ⁠… excuse me, but I’ve forgotten your name.⁠ ⁠… Masha Bring some here, nurse. I shan’t go over there. Irina Nurse! Anfisa Coming, coming! Natasha To Soleni. Children at the breast understand perfectly. I said “Good morning, Bobby; good morning, dear!” And he looked at me in quite an unusual way. You think it’s only the mother in me that is speaking; I assure you that isn’t so! He’s a wonderful child. Soleni If he was my child I’d roast him on a frying-pan and eat him. Takes his tumbler into the drawing-room and sits in a corner. Natasha Covers her face in her hands. Vulgar, ill-bred man! Masha He’s lucky who doesn’t notice whether it’s winter now, or summer. I think that if I were in Moscow, I shouldn’t mind about the weather. Vershinin A few days ago I was reading the prison diary of a French minister. He had been sentenced on account of the Panama scandal. With what joy, what delight, he speaks of the birds he saw through the prison windows, which he had never noticed while he was a minister. Now, of course, that he is at liberty, he notices birds no more than he did before. When you go to live in Moscow you’ll not notice it, in just the same way. There can be no happiness for us, it only exists in our wishes. Tuzenbach Takes cardboard box from the table. Where are the pastries? Irina Soleni has eaten them. Tuzenbach All of them? Anfisa Serving tea. There’s a letter for you. Vershinin For me? Takes the letter. From my daughter. Reads. Yes, of course⁠ ⁠… I will go quietly. Excuse me, Maria Sergeyevna. I shan’t have any tea. Stands up, excited. That eternal story.⁠ ⁠… Masha What is it? Is it a secret? Vershinin Quietly. My wife has poisoned herself again. I must go. I’ll go out quietly. It’s all awfully unpleasant. Kisses Masha’s hand. My dear, my splendid, good woman⁠ ⁠… I’ll go this way, quietly. Exit. Anfisa Where has he gone? And I’d served tea.⁠ ⁠… What a man. Masha Angrily. Be quiet! You bother so one can’t have a moment’s peace.⁠ ⁠… Goes to the table with her cup. I’m tired of you, old woman! Anfisa My dear! Why are you offended! Andrey’s voice Anfisa! Anfisa Mocking. Anfisa! He sits there and⁠ ⁠… Exit. Masha In the dining-room, by the table angrily. Let me sit down! Disturbs the cards on the table. Here you are, spreading your cards out. Have some tea! Irina You are cross, Masha. Masha If I am cross, then don’t talk to me. Don’t touch me! Chebutikin Don’t touch her, don’t touch her.⁠ ⁠… Masha You’re sixty, but you’re like a boy, always up to some beastly nonsense. Natasha Sighs. Dear Masha, why use such expressions? With your beautiful exterior you would be simply fascinating in good society, I tell you so directly, if it wasn’t for your words. Je vous prie, pardonnez moi, Marie, mais vous avez des manières un peu grossières. Tuzenbach Restraining his laughter. Give me⁠ ⁠… give me⁠ ⁠… there’s some cognac, I think. Natasha Il parait, que mon Bobick déjà ne dort pas, he has awakened. He isn’t well today. I’ll go to him, excuse me⁠ ⁠… Exit. Irina Where has Alexander Ignateyevitch gone? Masha Home. Something extraordinary has happened to his wife again. Tuzenbach Goes to Soleni with a cognac-flask in his hands. You go on sitting by yourself, thinking of something⁠—goodness knows what. Come and let’s make peace. Let’s have some cognac. They drink. I expect I’ll have to play the piano all night, some rubbish most likely⁠ ⁠… well, so be it! Soleni Why make peace? I haven’t quarrelled with you. Tuzenbach You always make me feel as if something has taken place between us. You’ve a strange character, you must admit. Soleni Declaims. “I am strange, but who is not? Don’t be angry, Aleko!” Tuzenbach And what has Aleko to do with it? Pause. Soleni When I’m with one other man I behave just like everybody else, but in company I’m dull and shy and⁠ ⁠… talk all manner of rubbish. But I’m more honest and more honourable than very, very many people. And I can prove it. Tuzenbach I often get angry with you, you always fasten on to me in company, but I like you all the same. I’m going to drink my fill tonight, whatever happens. Drink, now! Soleni Let’s drink. They drink. I never had anything against you, Baron. But my character is like Lermontov’s In a low voice. I even rather resemble Lermontov, they say.⁠ ⁠… Takes a scent-bottle from his pocket, and scents his hands. Tuzenbach I’ve sent in my resignation. Basta! I’ve been thinking about it for five years, and at last made up my mind. I shall work. Soleni Declaims. “Do not be angry, Aleko⁠ ⁠… forget, forget, thy