VERA

Natalya Petrovna’s late mother. I grew up in her home. I’m an orphan.

BELYAEV

(Dropping his hands) An orphan? And you don’t remember either your father or your mother?

VERA

No.

BELYAEV

My mother died, too. We’re both orphans. What can you do? But anyhow we shouldn’t be sad.

VERA

They say orphans are drawn to each other.

BELYAEV

(Looking into her eyes) Really? And what do you think?

VERA

(Also looking into his eyes, smiling) I think they are.

BELYAEV

(Laughs and goes back to his kite) I’m trying to think how long I’ve been here.

VERA

Today’s the twenty-eighth day.

BELYAEV

What a memory! Well, the kite’s done. Look at that tail! We should go and get Kolya.

KATYA

(Coming up to them with the basket) Would you like some more raspberries?

BELYAEV

No, thank you, Katya.

Katya silently steps away.

VERA

Kolya’s with Lizaveta Bogdanovna.

BELYAEV

Who would keep a child indoors in such weather!

VERA

Lizaveta Bogdanovna would only be in our way . . .

BELYAEV

I’m not talking about her . . .

VERA

(Hastily) Without her, Kolya couldn’t come with us . . . By the way, she praised you a lot yesterday.

BELYAEV

Really?

VERA

Don’t you like her?

BELYAEV

Her! She can sniff her snuff and good luck to her! . . . Why are you sighing?

VERA

(After a pause) I just am. How clear the sky is!

BELYAEV

So that’s what you’re sighing about? (Silence) Maybe you’re bored?

VERA

Me, bored? No! Sometimes I don’t know why I sigh . . . I’m not bored at all. On the contrary . . . (After a pause) I don’t know . . . I must be a little unwell. Yesterday I went upstairs to get a book—and all of a sudden, on the stairs, imagine, I just sat down on a step and burst into tears . . . God knows why. And for the longest time the tears kept welling up . . . What does it mean? And yet I feel fine . . .

BELYAEV

That’s from growing up. You’re growing up. It happens. That’s why your eyes seemed swollen yesterday.

VERA

You noticed?

BELYAEV

Sure!

VERA

You notice everything.

BELYAEV

Well, no . . . not everything.

VERA

(Pensively) Alexei Nikolaich . . .

BELYAEV

What?

VERA

(After a pause) What was it I wanted to ask you? Really, I’ve forgotten what I wanted to ask.

BELYAEV

Are you so absentminded?

VERA

No . . . but . . . ah, yes! Here’s what I wanted to ask. Didn’t you tell me you have a sister?

BELYAEV

Yes.

VERA

Do I look like her?

BELYAEV

Oh, no. You’re much prettier.

VERA

How can that be! Your sister . . . I wish I were in her place.

BELYAEV

What? You wish you were in our poor little house now?

VERA

That’s not what I meant . . . Is your house really so small?

BELYAEV