[Looks at herself in the mirror and then at the photograph.  Enter Alexander at the middle door.

NATO [without noticing Alexander].  No, you are the more beautiful!
                    [Kisses the photograph.

[Alexander approaches softly and kisses Nato.

NATO [frightened].  Oh!

ALEXANDER.  No, you are the more beautiful, Natalie, dear. Ma chere
Nathalie!

NATO. O mon cher Alexandre! How you frightened me!

ALEXANDER [putting his arm around her].  Let me kiss you again, and your fright will pass away. [Kisses her.] Give me a kiss just once!

NATO [kissing him].  There, you have one.

ALEXANDER.  Well, I ought to allow you to kiss me.  Am I not worth more
than that piece of paper?
                    [Takes her by the hand; they sit down on sofa at the
                         right.

NATO.  They have come to congratulate us.

ALEXANDER.  Yes, your grandmother, your aunts, and your cousins.  Nato, shall you give evening parties like this?

NATO [smiling].  Ha! ha! ha!  No such soirees as this, my dear Alexander.  Two evenings every month we will give little dances, either on Tuesdays or Thursdays.  Which is better?  Do you not think, Alexander, that Thursday will be best?

ALEXANDER [with a grimace].  As you wish, chere Nathalie.  If you like, you can give a soiree every week.

NATO.  No, twice a month is better.  Sophie, who is now Madame Jarinskaja, gives only two soirees in a month.

ALEXANDER.  Very well, Nato dear.

NATO.  That is agreed, then.  And every Thursday we will dance at the
Casino. [Alexander makes another grimace.] Mind, now! every Thursday.

ALEXANDER.  Do you like to visit the Casino?

NATO [laying her hand on his shoulder].  Who doesn’t like to visit it?  Is there another place where one can amuse one’s self better?  The beautiful long salon! the boudoir! the beautiful music and the rich costumes!  How beautiful they all are! [Embracing Alexander.] We will dance together, and when we are tired, we will go into the mirror-room and rest ourselves and talk and laugh.

ALEXANDER.  And then we will dance again and rest ourselves, and talk and laugh again.

NATO.  It will be splendid! [Kisses him.] I will dress beautifully a la mode, so that everyone will say, “Look! look! what a charming woman Madame Marmarow is!” And then, dear Alexander, we will subscribe for a box at the theatre for Fridays.

ALEXANDER [making another grimace aside].  She’s piling it on.

NATO.  And do you know where?  In the upper tier at the left, near the foyer.

ALEXANDER.  Wouldn’t it be better to subscribe for two evenings a week?