prise us and make us laugh? Or else you might think of some little thing which you could all do together, something to make you stir about. Let the girls admire you for once in their lives! Listen to me! I suppose you want them to like you? Then why don’t try to make them do it? Oh, dear! There is something wrong with you all! You are a lot of sleepy stick-in-the-muds! I have told you so a thousand times and shall always go on repeating it; there is something wrong with every one of you; something wrong, wrong, wrong!
Enter Ivanoff and Shabelski through the door on the right.
Shabelski. Who is making a speech here? Is it you, Sasha? [He laughs and shakes hands with her] Many happy returns of the day, my dear child. May you live as long as possible in this life, but never be born again!
Zinaida. [Joyfully] My dear Count!
Lebedieff. Who can this be? Not you, Count?
Shabelski. [Sees Zinaida and Martha sitting side by side] Two gold mines side by side! What a pleasant picture it makes! [He shakes hands with Zinaida] Good evening, Zuzu! [Shakes hands with Martha] Good evening, Birdie!
Zinaida. I am charmed to see you, Count. You are a rare visitor here now. [Calls] Gabriel, bring some tea! Please sit down.
She gets up and goes to the door and back, evidently much preoccupied. Sasha sits down in her former place. Ivanoff silently shakes hands with every one.
Lebedieff. [To Shabelski] What miracle has brought you here? You have given us a great surprise. Why, Count, you're a rascal, you haven’t been treating us right at all. [Leads him forward by the hand] Tell me, why don’t you ever come to see us now? Are you offended?
Shabelski. How can I get here to see you? Astride a
