ALEXaNDRA IVaNOVNA. Oh, please don't beat about the bush. You know very well what I am asking you about.

PRIEST. But allow me ...

ALEXaNDRA IVaNOVNA. I ask you, what creed is it that bids us shake hands with every peasant and let them cut down the trees, and give them money for vodka, and abandon our own families?

PRIEST. I don't know that ...

ALEXaNDRA IVaNOVNA. He says it is Christianity. You are a priest of the Orthodox Greek Church, and therefore you must know and must say whether Christianity bids us encourage robbery.

PRIEST. But I ...

ALEXaNDRA IVaNOVNA. Or else, why are you a priest, and why do you wear long hair and a ca.s.sock?

PRIEST. But we are not asked ...

ALEXaNDRA IVaNOVNA. Not asked, indeed! Why, I am asking you! He told me yesterday that the Gospels say, "Give to him that asketh of thee." But then in what sense is that meant?

PRIEST. In its plain sense, I suppose.

ALEXaNDRA IVaNOVNA. And I think not in the plain sense; we have always been taught that everybody's position is appointed by G.o.d.

PRIEST. Of course, but yet ...

ALEXaNDRA IVaNOVNA. Oh, yes. It's just as I was told; you take his side, and that is wrong! I say so straight out. If some young school teacher, or some young lad, lickspittles to him, it's bad enough--but you, in your position, should remember the responsibility that rests on you.

PRIEST. I try to ...

ALEXaNDRA IVaNOVNA. What sort of religion is it, when he does not go to church, and does not believe in the sacraments? And instead of bringing him to his senses, you read Renan with him, and interpret the Gospels in a way of your own.

PRIEST [excitedly] I cannot answer. I am, in fact, upset, and will hold my tongue.

ALEXaNDRA IVaNOVNA. Oh! If only I were your Bishop; I'd teach you to read Renan and smoke cigarettes.

PETER SEMYoNOVICH. _Mais cessez, au nom du ciel. De quel droit?_[14]

[14] But do stop, for heaven's sake. What right have you?

ALEXaNDRA IVaNOVNA. Please don't teach me. I am sure the Reverend Father is not angry with me. What if I have spoken plainly. It would have been worse had I bottled up my anger. Isn't that so?

PRIEST. Forgive me if I have not expressed myself as I should.

[Uncomfortable pause].

Enter Lyuba and Lisa. Lyuba, Mary Ivanovna's daughter, is a handsome energetic girl of twenty. Lisa, Alexandra Ivanovna's daughter, is a little older. Both have kerchiefs on their heads, and are carrying baskets, to go gathering mushrooms. They greet Alexandra Ivanovna, Peter Semyonovich, and the priest.

LYuBA. Where is Mamma?

ALEXaNDRA IVaNOVNA. Just gone to the baby.

PETER SEMYoNOVICH. Now mind you bring back plenty of mushrooms. A little village girl brought some lovely white ones this morning. I'd go with you myself, but it's too hot.

LISA. Do come, Papa!

ALEXaNDRA IVaNOVNA. Yes, go, for you are getting too fat.

PETER SEMYoNOVICH. Well, perhaps I will, but I must first fetch some cigarettes. [Exit].

ALEXaNDRA IVaNOVNA. Where are all the young ones?

LYuBA. Styopa is cycling to the station, the tutor has gone to town with papa. The little ones are playing croquet, and Vanya is out there in the porch, playing with the dogs.

ALEXaNDRA IVaNOVNA. Well, has Styopa decided on anything?

LYuBA. Yes. He has gone himself to hand in his application to enter the Horse-Guards. He was horribly rude to papa yesterday.

ALEXaNDRA IVaNOVNA. Of course, it's hard on him too.... _Il n'y a pas de patience qui tienne._[15] The young man must begin to live, and he is told to go and plough!

[15] There are limits to human endurance.

LYuBA. That's not what papa told him; he said ...

ALEXaNDRA IVaNOVNA. Never mind. Still Styopa must begin life, and whatever he proposes, it's all objected to. But here he is himself.

The Priest steps aside, opens a book, and begins to read. Enter Styopa cycling towards the verandah.

ALEXaNDRA IVaNOVNA. _Quand on parle du soleil on en voit les rayons._[16] We were just talking about you. Lyuba says you were rude to your father.

[16] Speak of the sun and you see its rays.

STYoPA. Not at all. There was nothing particular. He gave me his opinion, and I gave him mine. It is not my fault that our views differ.

Lyuba, you know, understands nothing, but must have her say about everything.

ALEXaNDRA IVaNOVNA. Well, and what have you decided on?

STYoPA. I don't know what Papa has decided. I'm afraid he does not quite know himself; but as for me, I have decided to volunteer for the Horse-Guards. In our house some special objection is made to every step that is taken; but this is all quite simple. I have finished my studies, and must serve my time. To enter a line regiment and serve with tipsy low-cla.s.s officers would be unpleasant, and so I'm entering the Horse-Guards, where I have friends.

ALEXaNDRA IVaNOVNA. Yes; but why won't your father agree to it?

STYoPA. Papa! What is the good of talking about him? He is now possessed by his _idee fixe_.[17] He sees nothing but what he wants to see. He says military service is the basest kind of employment, and that therefore one should not serve, and so he won't give me any money.

[17] Fixed idea.

LISA. No! Styopa. He did not say that! You know I was present. He says that if you cannot avoid serving, you should go when you are called; but that to volunteer, is to choose that kind of service of your own free will.

STYoPA. But it's I, not he, who is going to serve. He himself was in the army!

LISA. Yes, but he does not exactly say that he will not give you the money; but that he cannot take part in an affair that is contrary to his convictions.

STYoPA. Convictions have nothing to do with it. One must serve--and that's all!