ng
gentlemen.

TATYANA. Shall you remain long in this city?

BABAYEV. Shall I remain long? At first I thought it would depend upon the
clerks who have my affair in hand, but now I see that it will depend upon
you, my darling Tatyana Danilovna.

TATYANA. That honors me entirely too much. No, tell me, shall you be here
three or four days?

BABAYEV. They promised to arrange my affairs in three days, but maybe I'll
stay three or four days longer, if you wish me to.

TATYANA. Certainly, I do.

BABAYEV. There is just one drawback, my darling Tatyana Danilovna: your
city is dreadfully lonesome. I will remain on one condition, that I may see
you as often as possible.

TATYANA. That's very simple. Call on us. We shall be delighted to have you
come to tea to-morrow.

BABAYEV. Yes, but it's impossible to call on you often, as gossip and talk
spreads, and then there's your husband----

TATYANA. This doesn't concern him. You are my acquaintance; you call on me,
not him.

LUKERYA. Then we on our side will observe the courtesies and will return
your call. Besides, we often visit your landlady, so if it's pleasant for
you to see us, you can call in there.

BABAYEV. [_Withdrawing to one side with_ TATYANA] Doesn't married life bore
you?

TATYANA. [_After a pause_] I don't know; what can I say to that?

BABAYEV. My darling Tatyana Danilovna, be perfectly frank with me. You know
what kind feelings I've always had for you.

TATYANA. Why should I be so frank with you? What good can come of it? It's
too late to mend things now.

BABAYEV. If you can't mend things entirely, at least, darling Tatyana
Danilovna, you can sweeten your existence for a time, so that you will not
be entirely smothered by the vulgar life around you.

TATYANA. For a time, yes! Then life will be harder than ever. BABAYEV.
Do you know, I want to move to the country; then we could be near to one
another. I am even ready to move to this town, if only you----

TATYANA. [_Turning away_] Please don't talk to me like that! I didn't
expect to hear such things from you, Valentin Pavlich.

LUKERYA. [_To_ BABAYEV] You're getting in pretty deep there. I hear
everything you're saying.

BABAYEV. Lukerya Danilovna, I think some one is coming. Take a look out on
the bank there. I'm anxious that we should not be seen here together.

LUKERYA. Oh, you're a sly gentleman! [_Goes away_.

TATYANA. So you will have tea with us to-morrow, Valentin Pavlich?

BABAYEV