Vera smiles through her tears.

There.

Natalya Petrovna puts one arm around her and draws Vera to her.

Vera, my child, treat me as if I were your own mother, or, no, better still, imagine I’m your older sister, and let’s talk together about all these wonders . . . Want to?

VERA

All right, ma’am.

NATALYA

Well, listen, then . . . Move closer. There. First of all, since we’re saying you’re my sister, there’s no need for me to persuade you that you’re at home here: such pretty eyes are at home everywhere. So it shouldn’t even enter your head that you’re a burden to anybody in the world and that anybody would want to get rid of you . . . Do you hear? Then one bright day your sister comes to you and says: “Imagine, Vera, someone has asked to marry you . . .” Eh? How will you answer her? That you’re still very young, that you’re not even thinking about marriage?

VERA

Yes, ma’am.

NATALYA

Don’t say “Yes, ma’am” to me. Do you say “Yes, ma’am” to a sister?

VERA

(Smiling) Well, then . . . yes.

NATALYA

Your sister will agree with you, the suitor will be refused, and that’s the end of it. But what if the suitor is a good man, with money, if he’s prepared to wait, if he asks only for permission to see you now and then, in hopes that in time you’ll come to like him?

VERA

And who is this suitor?

NATALYA

Ah, so you’re curious! Can’t you guess?

VERA

No.

NATALYA

You saw him today.

Vera blushes all over.

True, he’s not very good-looking and not very young . . . Bolshintsov.

VERA

Afanasy Ivanych?

NATALYA

Yes . . . Afanasy Ivanych.

VERA

(Looks at Natalya for some time, suddenly begins to laugh, then stops) You’re not joking?

NATALYA

(Smiling) No . . . but I see Bolshintsov has no more business here. If you heard his name and cried, he might still have hope, but you burst out laughing. There’s nothing left for him but to take himself back home with Godspeed.

VERA

I’m sorry . . . but I really never expected . . . Isn’t he too old to get married?

NATALYA

What are you thinking? How old is he? He’s not even fifty. He’s in his prime.

VERA

Maybe so . . . but what a strange face . . .

NATALYA

Well, no more talk about him. He’s dead and buried . . . God be with him! Anyway, it’s understandable: a girl your age can’t like a Bolshintsov . . . You all want to marry for love, not for practical reasons, isn’t that so?

VERA

Yes, Natalya Petrovna, you . . . didn’t you marry Arkady Sergeich for love?

NATALYA

(After a pause) Of course I did. (Pausing again and squeezing Vera’s hand) Yes, Vera . . . I just called you a girl . . . but the girls are right.