Vera lowers her eyes.

So it’s settled. Bolshintsov is dismissed. I must say, I wouldn’t find it at all pleasant seeing his puffy old face next to your fresh little face—though, still, he’s a very good man. So you see now how wrong you were to be afraid of me? How quickly it all got decided! . . . (With reproach) Really, you treated me as if I were just your guardian! You know how I hate that word . . .

VERA

(Embracing her) Forgive me, Natalya Petrovna.

NATALYA

Well, there. You’re really not afraid of me?

VERA

No. I love you; I’m not afraid of you.

NATALYA

Thank you. So now we’re great friends and won’t hide anything from each other. And if I were to ask you: “Verochka, whisper in my ear: do you not want to marry Bolshintsov only because he’s much older than you and not a handsome man?”

VERA

Isn’t that enough, Natalya Petrovna?

NATALYA

I don’t disagree . . . but is there no other reason?

VERA

I don’t know him at all . . .

NATALYA

Very true, but you still haven’t answered my question.

VERA

There’s no other reason.

NATALYA

Really? In that case I advise you to think it over more. I know it’s hard to fall in love with Bolshintsov . . . but, as I said, he’s a good man. Now, if you had fallen in love with someone else . . . that would be a different matter. But up to now your heart hasn’t spoken?

VERA

(Timidly) How’s that, ma’am?

NATALYA

You don’t love anyone else?

VERA

I love you . . . Kolya . . . I also love Anna Semyonovna.

NATALYA

No, I’m not talking about that kind of love, you don’t understand me . . . For instance, of all the young men you may have seen here or on visits, can it be that you don’t like any of them?

VERA

No, ma’am . . . there are some I like, but . . .

NATALYA

For instance, I noticed, one evening at the Krinitsyns’ you danced three times with that tall officer . . . what’s his name?

VERA

With an officer?

NATALYA

Yes, the one with the big mustache.

VERA

Ah, that one! . . . No, I don’t like him.

NATALYA

Well, and Shalansky?

VERA

Shalansky’s a nice man, but he . . . I don’t think he cares about me.

NATALYA

Why’s that?

VERA

He . . . he seems more interested in Liza Velskaya.

NATALYA

(Glancing at her) Ah! . . . you noticed that? . . .

Pause.

Well, and Rakitin?

VERA

I like Mikhail Alexandrych very much . . .

NATALYA

Yes, like a brother. And Belyaev, by any chance?

VERA

(Blushing) Alexei Nikolaich? I like Alexei Nikolaich.

NATALYA

(Watching her) Yes, he’s a good man. Only he’s so shy with everybody . . .

VERA

(Innocently) No, ma’am, he’s not shy with me.

NATALYA