honoured Zinaida! Oh, glorious Martha! Most ancient Avdotia! Noblest of Counts!
Shabelski. [Laughing] The life of the company! The moment he comes in the air feels livelier. Have you noticed it?
Borkin. Whew! I am tired! I believe I have shaken hands with everybody. Well, ladies and gentlemen, haven’t you some little tid-bit to tell me; something spicy? [Speaking quickly to Zinaida] Oh, aunty! I have something to tell you. As I was on my way here—[To Gabriel] Some tea, please Gabriel, but without jam—as I was on my way here I saw some peasants down on the river-bank pulling the bark off the trees. Why don’t you lease that meadow?
Lebedieff. [To Ivanoff] Why don’t you send that Judas away?
Zinaida. [Startled] Why, that is quite true! I never thought of it.
Borkin. [Swinging his arms] I can’t sit still! What tricks shall we be up to next, aunty? I am all on edge, Martha, absolutely exalted. [He sings]
“Once more I stand before thee!”
Zinaida. Think of something to amuse us, Misha, we are all bored.
Borkin. Yes, you look so. What is the matter with you all? Why are you sitting there as solemn as a jury? Come, let us play something; what shall it be? Forfeits? Hide-and-seek? Tag? Shall we dance, or have the fireworks?
The Girls. [Clapping their hands] The fireworks! The fireworks!
Sasha. [To Ivanoff] What makes you so depressed to-day?
