HELENA. (Very excited, to her husband) For heaven's sake, Alexander, go and have a talk with him—explain!

SEREBRAKOFF. Very well, I shall have a talk with him, but I won't apologise for a thing. I am not angry with him, but you must confess that his behaviour has been strange, to say the least. Excuse me, I shall go to him.

(He goes out through the centre door.)

HELENA. Be gentle with him; try to quiet him. (She follows him out.)

SONIA. (Nestling nearer to MARINA) Nurse, oh, nurse!

MARINA. It's all right, my baby. When the geese have cackled they will be still again. First they cackle and then they stop.

SONIA. Nurse!

MARINA. You are trembling all over, as if you were freezing. There, there, little orphan baby, God is merciful. A little linden-tea, and it will all pass away. Don't cry, my sweetest. (Looking angrily at the door in the centre of the room) See, the geese have all gone now. The devil take them!

A shot is heard. HELENA screams behind the scenes. SONIA shudders.

MARINA. Bang! What's that?

SEREBRAKOFF. (Comes in reeling with terror) Hold him! hold him! He has gone mad!

HELENA and VOITSKI are seen struggling in the doorway.

HELENA. (Trying to wrest the revolver from him) Give it to me; give it to me, I tell you!

VOITSKI. Let me go, Helena, let me go! (He frees himself and rushes in, looking everywhere for SEREBRAKOFF) Where is he? Ah, there he is! (He shoots at him. A pause) I didn't get him? I missed again? (Furiously) Damnation! Damnation! To hell with him!

He flings the revolver on the floor, and drops helpless into a chair. SEREBRAKOFF stands as if stupefied. HELENA leans against the wall, almost fainting.

HELENA. Take me away! Take me away! I can't stay here—I can't!

VOITSKI. (In despair) Oh, what shall I do? What shall I do?

SONIA. (Softly) Oh, nurse, nurse!

The curtain falls.

Act IV

*

VOITSKI'S bedroom, which is also his office. A table stands near the window; on it are ledgers, letter scales, and papers of every description. Near by stands a smaller table belonging to ASTROFF, with his paints and drawing materials. On the wall hangs a cage containing a starling. There is also a map of Africa on the wall, obviously of no use to anybody. There is a large sofa covered with buckram. A door to the left leads into an inner room; one to the right leads into the front hall, and before this door lies a mat for the peasants with their muddy boots to stand on. It is an autumn evening. The silence is profound. TELEGIN and MARINA are sitting facing one another, winding wool.

TELEGIN. Be quick, Marina, or we shall be called away to say good-bye before you have finished. The carriage has already been ordered.

MARINA. (Trying to wind more quickly) I am a little tired.

TELEGIN. They are going to Kharkoff to live.

MARINA. They do well to go.