Three Sisters - Anton Chekhov (some good books to read .txt) 📗
- Author: Anton Chekhov
Book online «Three Sisters - Anton Chekhov (some good books to read .txt) 📗». Author Anton Chekhov
to drink, all the same. Angrily, but so that her husband should not hear. Another dull evening at the Director’s, confound it!
Tuzenbach
I shouldn’t go if I were you. … It’s quite simple.
Chebutikin
Don’t go.
Masha
Yes, “don’t go. …” It’s a cursed, unbearable life. … Goes into dining-room.
Chebutikin
Follows her. It’s not so bad.
Soleni
Going into the dining-room. There, there, there. …
Tuzenbach
Vassili Vassilevitch, that’s enough. Be quiet!
Soleni
There, there, there. …
Kuligin
Gaily. Your health, Colonel! I’m a pedagogue and not quite at home here. I’m Masha’s husband. … She’s a good sort, a very good sort.
Vershinin
I’ll have some of this black vodka. … Drinks. Your health! To Olga. I’m very comfortable here!
Only Irina and Tuzenbach are now left in the sitting-room.
Irina
Masha’s out of sorts today. She married when she was eighteen, when he seemed to her the wisest of men. And now it’s different. He’s the kindest man, but not the wisest.
Olga
Impatiently. Andrey, when are you coming?
Andrey
Off. One minute. Enters and goes to the table.
Tuzenbach
What are you thinking about?
Irina
I don’t like this Soleni of yours and I’m afraid of him. He only says silly things.
Tuzenbach
He’s a queer man. I’m sorry for him, though he vexes me. I think he’s shy. When there are just the two of us he’s quite all right and very good company; when other people are about he’s rough and hectoring. Don’t let’s go in, let them have their meal without us. Let me stay with you. What are you thinking of? Pause. You’re twenty. I’m not yet thirty. How many years are there left to us, with their long, long lines of days, filled with my love for you. …
Irina
Nicolai Lvovitch, don’t speak to me of love.
Tuzenbach
Does not hear. I’ve a great thirst for life, struggle, and work, and this thirst has united with my love for you, Irina, and you’re so beautiful, and life seems so beautiful to me! What are you thinking about?
Irina
You say that life is beautiful. Yes, if only it seems so! The life of us three hasn’t been beautiful yet; it has been stifling us as if it was weeds … I’m crying. I oughtn’t. … Dries her tears, smiles. We must work, work. That is why we are unhappy and look at the world so sadly; we don’t know what work is. Our parents despised work. …
Enter Natalia Ivanova; she wears a pink dress and a green sash.
Natasha
They’re already at lunch … I’m late … Carefully examines herself in a mirror, and puts herself straight. I think my hair’s done all right. … Sees Irina. Dear Irina Sergeyevna, I congratulate you! Kisses her firmly and at length. You’ve so many visitors, I’m really ashamed. … How do you do, Baron!
Olga
Enters from dining-room. Here’s Natalia Ivanovna. How are you, dear! They kiss.
Natasha
Happy returns. I’m awfully shy, you’ve so many people here.
Olga
All our friends. Frightened, in an undertone. You’re wearing a green sash! My dear, you shouldn’t!
Natasha
Is it a sign of anything?
Olga
No, it simply doesn’t go well … and it looks so queer.
Natasha
In a tearful voice. Yes? But it isn’t really green, it’s too dull for that. Goes into dining-room with Olga.
They have all sat down to lunch in the dining-room, the sitting-room is empty.
Kuligin
I wish you a nice fiancée, Irina. It’s quite time you married.
Chebutikin
Natalia Ivanovna, I wish you the same.
Kuligin
Natalia Ivanovna has a fiancé already.
Masha
Raps with her fork on a plate. Let’s all get drunk and make life purple for once!
Kuligin
You’ve lost three good conduct marks.
Vershinin
This is a nice drink. What’s it made of?
Soleni
Blackbeetles.
Irina
Tearfully. Phoo! How disgusting!
Olga
There is to be a roast turkey and a sweet apple pie for dinner. Thank goodness I can spend all day and the evening at home. You’ll come in the evening, ladies and gentlemen. …
Vershinin
And please may I come in the evening!
Irina
Please do.
Natasha
They don’t stand on ceremony here.
Chebutikin
Nature only brought us into the world that we should love! Laughs.
Andrey
Angrily. Please don’t! Aren’t you tired of it?
Enter Fedotik and Rode with a large basket of flowers.
Fedotik
They’re lunching already.
Rode
Loudly and thickly. Lunching? Yes, so they are. …
Fedotik
Wait a minute! Takes a photograph. That’s one. No, just a moment. … Takes another. That’s two. Now we’re ready!
They take the basket and go into the dining-room, where they have a noisy reception.
Rode
Loudly. Congratulations and best wishes! Lovely weather today, simply perfect. Was out walking with the high school students all the morning. I take their drills.
Fedotik
You may move, Irina Sergeyevna! Takes a photograph. You look well today. Takes a humming-top out of his pocket. Here’s a humming-top, by the way. It’s got a lovely note!
Irina
How awfully nice!
Masha
“There stands a green oak by the sea,
And a chain of bright gold is around it …
And a chain of bright gold is around it …”
Tearfully. What am I saying that for? I’ve had those words running in my head all day. …
Kuligin There are thirteen at table! Rode Aloud. Surely you don’t believe in that superstition? Laughter. Kuligin If there are thirteen at table then it means there are lovers present. It isn’t you, Ivan Romanovitch, hang it all. … Laughter. Chebutikin I’m a hardened sinner, but I really don’t see why Natalia Ivanovna should blush. … Loud laughter; Natasha runs out into the sitting-room, followed by Andrey. Andrey Don’t pay any attention to them! Wait … do stop, please. … Natasha I’m shy … I don’t know what’s the matter with me and they’re all laughing at me. It wasn’t nice of me to leave the table like that, but I can’t … I can’t. Covers her face with her hands. Andrey My dear, I beg you. I implore you not to excite yourself. I assure you they’re only joking, they’reFree e-book «Three Sisters - Anton Chekhov (some good books to read .txt) 📗» - read online now
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