Trigorin.  Page 121—­[He goes out.]

Sorin.  You are going away, and I shall be lonely without you.

Arkadina.  What would you do in town?

Sorin.  Oh, nothing in particular, but somehow—­[He laughs] They are soon to lay the corner-stone of the new court-house here.  How I should like to leap out of this minnow-pond, if but for an hour or two!  I am tired of lying here like an old cigarette stump.  I have ordered the carriage for one o’clock.  We can go away together.

Arkadina. [After a pause] No, you must stay here.  Don’t be lonely, and don’t catch cold.  Keep an eye on my boy.  Take good care of him; guide him along the proper paths. [A pause] I am going away, and so shall never find out why Constantine shot himself, but I think the chief reason was jealousy, and the sooner I take Trigorin away, the better.

Sorin.  There were—­how shall I explain it to you?—­other reasons besides jealousy for his act.  Here is a clever young chap living in the depths of the country, without money or position, with no future ahead of him, and with nothing to do.  He is ashamed and afraid of being so idle.  I am devoted to him and he is fond of me, but nevertheless he feels that he is useless here, that he is little more than a dependent in this house.  It is the pride in him.

Arkadina.  He is a misery to me! [Thoughtfully] He might possibly enter the army.

Sorin. [Gives a whistle, and then speaks with hesitation] It seems to me that the best thing for him would be if you were to let him have a little money.  For one thing, he ought to be allowed to dress like a human being.  See how he looks!  Wearing the same little old coat that he has had for three years, and he doesn’t even possess an overcoat! [Laughing] And it wouldn’t hurt the youngster to sow a few wild oats; let him go abroad, say, for a time.  It wouldn’t cost much.

Arkadina.  Yes, but—­However, I think I might manage about his clothes, but I couldn’t let him go abroad.  And no, I don’t think I can let him have his clothes even, now. [Decidedly] I have no money at present.

Sorin laughs.

Arkadina.  I haven’t indeed.

Sorin. [Whistles] Very well.  Forgive me, darling; don’t be angry.  You are a noble, generous woman!

Arkadina. [Weeping] I really haven’t the money.

Sorin.  If I had any money of course I should let him have some myself, but I haven’t even a penny.  The farm manager takes my pension from me and puts it all into the farm or into cattle or bees, and in that way it is always lost for ever.  The bees die, the cows die, they never let me have a horse.

Arkadina.  Of course I have some money, but I am an actress and my expenses for dress alone are enough to bankrupt me.

Sorin.  You are a dear, and I am very fond of you, indeed I am.  But something is the matter with me again. [He staggers] I feel giddy. [He leans against the table] I feel faint, and all.