BELYAEV
Good lord . . . I . . .
NATALYA
In the first place—don’t be shy, it doesn’t suit you at all. Yes, we’ll help you along. (Points to Rakitin) We’re old people—but you are a young man . . . Right? Look how nicely it all works out. You’ll busy yourself with Kolya—and I . . . and we . . . with you.
BELYAEV
I shall be very grateful to you.
NATALYA
Well, there. What were you and Mikhail Alexandrych just talking about?
RAKITIN
(Smiling) He told me how he translated a French book—without knowing a word of French.
NATALYA
Ah! Well, then we’re also going to teach you French. By the way, what have you done with your kite?
BELYAEV
I took it in. I thought you . . . disapproved . . .
NATALYA
(With some embarrassment) Why did you think that? Because I . . . because I sent Verochka in? No, that’s . . . No, you were mistaken. (With animation) Anyway, you know what? Kolya must have finished his lesson by now. Let’s go and get him, and Verochka, and the kite, and we’ll all go to the meadow together—want to?
BELYAEV
I’d be glad to, Natalya Petrovna.
NATALYA
Wonderful. Well, let’s go, let’s go. (Offers him her arm) Oh, do take my arm, what a clumsy one you are! Let’s go . . . come on.
They both quickly exit left.
RAKITIN
(Looking after them) So lively . . . so gay . . . I’ve never seen such a look on her face. And what a sudden change! (Pause) Souvent femme varie . . .15 But I . . . I’m definitely rubbing her the wrong way today. That’s obvious. (Pause) Well, let’s see what happens next. (Slowly) Can it be . . . (Waves his hand) Impossible! . . . But that smile, that soft, bright, welcoming gaze . . . Ah, God spare me the torments of jealousy, especially senseless jealousy! (Suddenly looking around) Well, well, well . . . what wind blows you here?
Shpigelsky and Bolshintsov enter from left. Rakitin goes to meet them.
Greetings, gentlemen . . . I must say, Shpigelsky, I wasn’t expecting you today . . .
Shakes their hands.
SHPIGELSKY
Neither was I . . . I never imagined . . . I went to his place (Pointing to Bolshintsov), and he was already sitting in his carriage to come here. So I did an about face and came back with him.
RAKITIN
Welcome, then.
BOLSHINTSOV
In fact, I was going to . . .
SHPIGELSKY
(Deliberately changing the subject) The servants told us everybody was in the garden . . . At least there was nobody in the drawing room . . .
RAKITIN
You didn’t run into Natalya Petrovna?
SHPIGELSKY
When?
RAKITIN
Just now.
SHPIGELSKY
No. We didn’t come straight from the house. Afanasy Ivanych wanted to see if there were mushrooms in the woods.
BOLSHINTSOV
(With perplexity) I . . .