Sonia. What is it?
Astroff. Nothing. During Lent one of my patients died under chloroform.
Sonia. It is time to forget that. [A pause] Tell me, doctor, if I had a friend or a younger sister, and if you knew that she, well—loved you, what would you do?
Astroff. [Shrugging his shoulders] I don’t know. I don’t think I should do anything. I should make her understand that I could not return her love—however, my mind is not bothered about those things now. I must start at once if I am ever to get off. Good-bye, my dear girl. At this rate we shall stand here talking till morning. [He shakes hands with her] I shall go out through the sitting-room, because I am afraid your uncle might detain me.Sonia. [Alone] Not a word! His heart and soul are still locked from me, and yet for some reason I am strangely happy. I wonder why? [She laughs with pleasure] I told him that he was well-bred and handsome and that his voice was sweet. Was that a mistake? I can still feel his voice vibrating in the air; it caresses me. [Wringing her hands] Oh! how terrible it is to be plain! I am plain, I know it. As I came out of church last Sunday I overheard a woman say, “She is a dear, noble girl, but what a pity she is so ugly!” So ugly!
Helena comes in and throws open the window.
Helena. The storm is over. What delicious air! [A pause] Where is the doctor?
Sonia. He has gone. [A pause.
Helena. Sonia!
Sonia. Yes?
Helena. How much longer are you going to sulk at me? We have not hurt each other. Why not be friends? We have had enough of this.
