RAKITIN

I’m ready to advise you, Natalya Petrovna, but only on one condition.

NATALYA

What is it?

RAKITIN

Promise me that you won’t doubt my intentions. Say you believe I’m only interested in helping you. That way you’ll also help me. Your trust will give me strength, otherwise you’d better allow me to say nothing.

NATALYA

Speak, speak.

RAKITIN

You don’t doubt me?

NATALYA

Speak.

RAKITIN

Well, then listen: he must leave.

Natalya Petrovna gazes at him in silence.

Yes, he must leave. I won’t speak about . . . your husband, your duty. That’s inappropriate, coming from me . . . But these children love each other. You just told me so yourself. Now imagine coming between them . . . It would be the end of you!

NATALYA

He must leave . . . (Pause) But you? You’ll stay?

RAKITIN

(Embarrassed) Me? . . . Me? . . . (Pause) I must leave, too. For the sake of your peace, your happiness, Verochka’s happiness, he . . . and I . . . must both leave for good.

NATALYA

Rakitin . . . I reached the point where I . . . I was almost ready to have this poor girl, an orphan, entrusted to me by my mother—married off to a stupid, ridiculous old man! . . . I didn’t have the heart, Rakitin; the words froze on my lips, when she burst out laughing at my suggestion . . . but I connived with that doctor, I let him smirk; I put up with his smirking, his compliments, his hints . . . Oh, I feel I’m on the edge of an abyss! Save me!

RAKITIN

You see, I was right, Natalya Petrovna . . . (She is silent; he hurriedly continues) He must leave . . . we both must leave . . . There’s no other way out.

NATALYA

(Dejectedly) But then what is there to live for?

RAKITIN

My God, can it have come to that . . . You’ll get over it, Natalya Petrovna, believe me . . . It will all pass. What is there to live for—really!

NATALYA

Yes, yes, what is there to live for, when you’re all abandoning me?

RAKITIN

But . . . your family . . .

Natalya Petrovna lowers her eyes.

Listen, if you like, I can stay a few more days after he leaves . . . so that . . .

NATALYA

(Darkly) Ah! I understand! It’s the old routine, it’s old friendship you’re counting on . . . You hope that I’ll come to my senses, that I’ll go back to you—right? I understand.

RAKITIN

(Turning red) Natalya Petrovna! Why do you insult me?

NATALYA

(Bitterly) I understand . . . but you’re fooling yourself.

RAKITIN

What? After your promises, after I—for you, for you alone, for your happiness, for your position in society . . .

NATALYA

Ah! Since when are you so concerned about that? Why have you never talked to me about that before?