BELYAEV

Me, Vera Alexandrovna?

VERA

Do you love her? Could you fall in love with her? You won’t answer my question?

BELYAEV

But, for pity’s sake, what kind of answer do you want? Vera Alexandrovna, you’re so upset . . . Please calm down . . .

VERA

(Turning away from him) You treat me like a child . . . You don’t even deign to answer me seriously . . . You just want to get rid of me . . . You think you can comfort me! (She goes to leave, but suddenly stops, seeing Natalya Petrovna) Natalya Petrovna . . .

Belyaev quickly turns to look.

NATALYA

(Taking several steps forward) Yes, it’s me. (She speaks with some effort) I’ve come for you, Verochka.

VERA

(Slowly and coldly) What made you think of coming precisely here? Does it mean you’ve been looking for me?

NATALYA

Yes, I’ve been looking for you. You’re imprudent, Verochka . . . I’ve told you more than once . . . And you, Alexei Nikolaich, have forgotten your promise . . . You have deceived me.

VERA

Enough of that, Natalya Petrovna! Stop it!

Natalya Petrovna looks at her in amazement.

Stop talking to me like a child . . . (Lowering her voice) I’m a woman now . . . As much of a woman as you are.

NATALYA

(Embarrassed) Vera . . .

VERA

(Almost in a whisper) He hasn’t deceived you . . . He didn’t ask for this meeting with me. He doesn’t love me, you know that, so you needn’t be jealous.

NATALYA

(With increasing amazement) Vera!

VERA

Believe me . . . stop pretending. This pretending no longer serves any purpose . . . I see through it now. Believe me. I’m not your ward, Natalya Petrovna, whom you look after (Ironically) like an older sister . . . (Moves toward her) I am your rival.

NATALYA

You forget yourself, Vera . . .

VERA

Maybe so . . . but who drove me to it? I don’t know where I get the courage to speak to you like this . . . Maybe I’m speaking like this because I don’t hope for anything anymore, because you so kindly walked all over me . . . And you succeeded . . . completely. But listen: I’m not going to be devious with you, as you were with me . . . know, then, that I’ve told him everything. (Pointing at Belyaev)

NATALYA

What could you have told him?

VERA

What? (Ironically) Oh, everything I’ve managed to notice. You hoped to wheedle everything out of me without giving yourself away. You were mistaken, Natalya Petrovna. You overestimated yourself . . .

NATALYA

Vera, Vera, come to your senses . . .

VERA

(In a whisper, and going still closer to her) Tell me I’m mistaken . . . Tell me you don’t love him . . . Didn’t he tell me that he didn’t love me?

Natalya Petrovna is too embarrassed to say anything. Vera remains motionless for a while, then suddenly puts her hand to her forehead.