NADYA.  Yes, sir.  Every girl hopes to get married some time.

LEONID.  But have you a suitor?

NADYA.  Not yet, sir.

LEONID. [Timidly] If you have no suitor, then, maybe you’re in love with somebody?

NADYA.  You want to know a lot!  Well, no, I needn’t fib about it, I’m not in love with anybody, sir.

LEONID. [With great joy] Then love me!

NADYA.  It’s impossible to force the heart, sir.

LEONID.  Why?  Don’t you like me?

NADYA.  Well, how could I help liking you?  But I’m not your equal!  What sort of love is that?  Clean ruin!  Here comes Liza running after me, I suppose.  Good-by.  Good luck to you! [She goes away.

LIZA comes in.

LIZA.  Master, if you please!  Your mamma has come.

LEONID.  Liza!

LIZA. [Approaching] What is it, please?

LEONID. [He embraces LIZA; she trembles with pleasure] Why won’t Nadya love me?

LIZA. [Affectedly] What are you talking about, master!  Girls of our sort must look out for themselves!

LEONID.  Look out for yourselves how?

LIZA. [Looks him in the face and smiles] Why, everybody knows.  What are you talking like a child for?

LEONID. [Sadly] What shall I do now?  Indeed, I don’t know.  They all run away from me.

LIZA.  But don’t lose courage; just make love a little bit.  Heavens, our hearts aren’t of stone!

LEONID.  But see here!  I asked her:  she said she didn’t love me.

LIZA.  Well, if you aren’t a queer one!  Whoever asked girls right out whether they were in love or not!  Even if one of us girls was in love, she wouldn’t say so.

LEONID.  Why?

LIZA.  Because she’s bashful.  Only let me go, sir! [She gets free] There goes the old fury!

LEONID.  Come out here into the garden after supper, when mamma goes to bed.

LIZA.  You don’t lose any time!

LEONID.  Please come.

LIZA.  Well, we’ll see later. [VASILISA PEREGRINOVNA enters] Master, please come to tea, your mamma is waiting.

LEONID.  All right, I’m coming.

SCENE V

The same and VASILISA PEREGRINOVNA

VASILISA PEREGRINOVNA.  I saw you, my dear, I saw you.

LIZA.  There was nothing to see. [She goes out.

LEONID.  Well, what did you see?  What are you going to complain about?  I shall simply say that you lie.  Whom are they going to believe quicker, you or me?

[He makes a grimace and goes out.

VASILISA PEREGRINOVNA.  There, that’s the way they all treat me.  I can’t stand it!  My heart is just sick.  I’m a martyr in this world. [She plucks a flower viciously and pulls off its petals] I believe that if I had the power I’d do this to all of you!  I’d do this to all of you!  I’d do this to all of you!  You just wait, you young scamp!  I’ll catch you.  My heart boils, it boils, it boils over!  And now I must smirk before the mistress as if I were a fool.  What a life!  What a life!  The sinners in hell do not suffer as I suffer in this house! [She goes out.