I already shot at a tree, grandma, and hit it two times . . . (Jumping up and down)
NATALYA
Show me, Kolya.
KOLYA
(Runs to her, and while Natalya Petrovna examines the bow) Ah, maman! You should see how Alexei Nikolaich climbs trees! He wants to teach me. And how to swim. He’s going to teach me everything, everything! (Jumping up and down)
NATALYA
(To Belyaev) I’m very grateful to you for your attention to Kolya.
KOLYA
(Interrupting her heatedly) I like him very much, maman, very much!
NATALYA
(Stroking Kolya’s head) I’ve pampered him a bit . . . Get him to run and jump for me.
Belyaev bows.
KOLYA
Alexei Nikolaich, let’s go to the stables and bring Favorite some bread.
BELYAEV
All right, let’s go.
ANNA
(To Kolya) Come here, kiss me first . . .
KOLYA
(Running off) Later, grandma, later!
He runs to the ballroom. Belyaev follows him.
ANNA
(Gazing after Kolya) What a sweet child! (To Schaaf and Lizaveta Bogdanovna) Isn’t he?
LIZAVETA
Of course, ma’am.
SCHAAF
(After a pause) I pass.
NATALYA
(With some animation, to Rakitin) Well, how did he seem to you?
RAKITIN
Who?
NATALYA
(After a pause) This . . . Russian tutor.
RAKITIN
Ah, sorry, I forgot . . . I was still thinking about the question you asked me . . .
Natalya Petrovna looks at him with a barely noticeable smile.
His face, though . . . actually . . . Yes, he has a nice face. I like him. Only he seems very shy.
NATALYA
Yes, he does.
RAKITIN
(Looking at her) But still I can’t quite figure out . . .
NATALYA
Why don’t we help him along a bit, Rakitin? Want to? We’ll complete his education. Who better than two staid, reasonable people like us! We’re very reasonable, aren’t we?
RAKITIN
This young man interests you. If he knew it . . . he’d be flattered.
NATALYA
Oh, not at all, believe me! It’s impossible to judge him by what . . . our kind would do in his place. He’s not at all like us, Rakitin. That’s the trouble: we keep studying ourselves and then imagine we know other people.
RAKITIN
“The soul of another is a dark forest.” But what are you hinting at? . . . Why this constant needling?
NATALYA
Who can you needle, if not your friends . . . And you are my friend . . . You know that.
She presses his hand. Rakitin smiles and brightens up.
You’re my old friend.
RAKITIN
I’m just afraid . . . you’ll have too much of this old friend.
NATALYA
(Laughs) Yes, too much of a good thing.
RAKITIN
Maybe . . . Only that doesn’t make it any easier.
NATALYA
Well, well . . . (Lowering her voice) As if you don’t know . . . ce que vous êtes pour moi.2
RAKITIN
Natalya Petrovna, you play with me like a cat with a mouse . . . But the mouse is not complaining.