Three Sisters - Anton Chekhov (some good books to read .txt) 📗
- Author: Anton Chekhov
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I bought some coloured pencils for you at Pizhikov’s in the Moscow Road, just now. And here is a little knife.
Irina
You have got into the habit of behaving to me as if I am a little girl, but I am grown up. Takes the pencils and the knife, then, with joy. How lovely!
Fedotik
And I bought myself a knife … look at it … one blade, another, a third, an ear-scoop, scissors, nail-cleaners.
Rode
Loudly. Doctor, how old are you?
Chebutikin
I? Thirty-two. Laughter.
Fedotik
I’ll show you another kind of patience. … Lays out cards.
A samovar is brought in; Anfisa attends to it; a little later Natasha enters and helps by the table; Soleni arrives and, after greetings, sits by the table.
Vershinin
What a wind!
Masha
Yes. I’m tired of winter. I’ve already forgotten what summer’s like.
Irina
It’s coming out, I see. We’re going to Moscow.
Fedotik
No, it won’t come out. Look, the eight was on the two of spades. Laughs. That means you won’t go to Moscow.
Chebutikin
Reading paper. Tsitsigar. Smallpox is raging here.
Anfisa
Coming up to Masha. Masha, have some tea, little mother. To Vershinin. Please have some, sir … excuse me, but I’ve forgotten your name. …
Masha
Bring some here, nurse. I shan’t go over there.
Irina
Nurse!
Anfisa
Coming, coming!
Natasha
To Soleni. Children at the breast understand perfectly. I said “Good morning, Bobby; good morning, dear!” And he looked at me in quite an unusual way. You think it’s only the mother in me that is speaking; I assure you that isn’t so! He’s a wonderful child.
Soleni
If he was my child I’d roast him on a frying-pan and eat him. Takes his tumbler into the drawing-room and sits in a corner.
Natasha
Covers her face in her hands. Vulgar, ill-bred man!
Masha
He’s lucky who doesn’t notice whether it’s winter now, or summer. I think that if I were in Moscow, I shouldn’t mind about the weather.
Vershinin
A few days ago I was reading the prison diary of a French minister. He had been sentenced on account of the Panama scandal. With what joy, what delight, he speaks of the birds he saw through the prison windows, which he had never noticed while he was a minister. Now, of course, that he is at liberty, he notices birds no more than he did before. When you go to live in Moscow you’ll not notice it, in just the same way. There can be no happiness for us, it only exists in our wishes.
Tuzenbach
Takes cardboard box from the table. Where are the pastries?
Irina
Soleni has eaten them.
Tuzenbach
All of them?
Anfisa
Serving tea. There’s a letter for you.
Vershinin
For me? Takes the letter. From my daughter. Reads. Yes, of course … I will go quietly. Excuse me, Maria Sergeyevna. I shan’t have any tea. Stands up, excited. That eternal story. …
Masha
What is it? Is it a secret?
Vershinin
Quietly. My wife has poisoned herself again. I must go. I’ll go out quietly. It’s all awfully unpleasant. Kisses Masha’s hand. My dear, my splendid, good woman … I’ll go this way, quietly. Exit.
Anfisa
Where has he gone? And I’d served tea. … What a man.
Masha
Angrily. Be quiet! You bother so one can’t have a moment’s peace. … Goes to the table with her cup. I’m tired of you, old woman!
Anfisa
My dear! Why are you offended!
Andrey’s voice
Anfisa!
Anfisa
Mocking. Anfisa! He sits there and … Exit.
Masha
In the dining-room, by the table angrily. Let me sit down! Disturbs the cards on the table. Here you are, spreading your cards out. Have some tea!
Irina
You are cross, Masha.
Masha
If I am cross, then don’t talk to me. Don’t touch me!
Chebutikin
Don’t touch her, don’t touch her. …
Masha
You’re sixty, but you’re like a boy, always up to some beastly nonsense.
Natasha
Sighs. Dear Masha, why use such expressions? With your beautiful exterior you would be simply fascinating in good society, I tell you so directly, if it wasn’t for your words. Je vous prie, pardonnez moi, Marie, mais vous avez des manières un peu grossières.
Tuzenbach
Restraining his laughter. Give me … give me … there’s some cognac, I think.
Natasha
Il parait, que mon Bobick déjà ne dort pas, he has awakened. He isn’t well today. I’ll go to him, excuse me … Exit.
Irina
Where has Alexander Ignateyevitch gone?
Masha
Home. Something extraordinary has happened to his wife again.
Tuzenbach
Goes to Soleni with a cognac-flask in his hands. You go on sitting by yourself, thinking of something—goodness knows what. Come and let’s make peace. Let’s have some cognac. They drink. I expect I’ll have to play the piano all night, some rubbish most likely … well, so be it!
Soleni
Why make peace? I haven’t quarrelled with you.
Tuzenbach
You always make me feel as if something has taken place between us. You’ve a strange character, you must admit.
Soleni
Declaims. “I am strange, but who is not? Don’t be angry, Aleko!”
Tuzenbach
And what has Aleko to do with it? Pause.
Soleni
When I’m with one other man I behave just like everybody else, but in company I’m dull and shy and … talk all manner of rubbish. But I’m more honest and more honourable than very, very many people. And I can prove it.
Tuzenbach
I often get angry with you, you always fasten on to me in company, but I like you all the same. I’m going to drink my fill tonight, whatever happens. Drink, now!
Soleni
Let’s drink. They drink. I never had anything against you, Baron. But my character is like Lermontov’s In a low voice. I even rather resemble Lermontov, they say. … Takes a scent-bottle from his pocket, and scents his hands.
Tuzenbach
I’ve sent in my resignation. Basta! I’ve been thinking about it for five years, and at last made up my mind. I shall work.
Soleni
Declaims. “Do not be angry, Aleko … forget, forget, thy
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