ic and the rich
costumes! How beautiful they all are! [_Embracing Alexander_.] We will
dance together, and when we are tired, we will go into the mirror-room
and rest ourselves and talk and laugh.

ALEXANDER. And then we will dance again and rest ourselves, and talk and
laugh again.

NATO. It will be splendid! [_Kisses him_.] I will dress beautifully _a
la mode_, so that everyone will say, "Look! look! what a charming woman
Madame Marmarow is!" And then, dear Alexander, we will subscribe for a
box at the theatre for Fridays.

ALEXANDER [_making another grimace aside_]. She's piling it on.

NATO. And do you know where? In the upper tier at the left, near the
foyer.

ALEXANDER. Wouldn't it be better to subscribe for two evenings a week?

NATO. Wouldn't it cost too much?

ALEXANDER. What has that to do with it? Do you think I could deny you
any pleasure? No! no! you shall have everything.

NATO [_embracing him_]. _Cher Alexandre_! do you really love me so
much?

ALEXANDER. I cannot tell you at all how much I love you. Right at our
first meeting I fell in love with you!

NATO. I don't believe it! I don't believe it! All young men talk so!

ALEXANDER. Ha! ha! ha! Do you think I am like them? With them the
tongues have nothing to do with the heart; but my tongue speaks what is
here!
[_Strikes himself on the breast_.

NATO [_ironically_]. I know! I know! If I had no dowry you would not
marry me.

ALEXANDER. Nato dear, you wrong me! _ma chere_! As if the dowry made any
difference! _Fi donc_!

NATO. Then you really love me so much?

ALEXANDER. Very, very much, Nato dear. You can put me to the test if you
will.

NATO. Do you know, my piano is not fit to use!

ALEXANDER [_smoothing his hair_--_aside_]. Something new again.

NATO. Buy me a new piano. To-day I saw one at a store; it cost 500
rubles.

ALEXANDER. Five hundred rubles! You cannot buy a decent piano for that!

NATO. Dear Alexander!

ALEXANDER. Be patient awhile, Nato dear. One of my friends brought a
piano from abroad that cost 1,000; yes, even 1,500 rubles.

NATO. My sweetheart; my dear sweetheart! [_Kissing him_.] I will come
right back. [_Rises_.] I must go and prepare for our reception or mamma
will be angry. Tra-la-la.
[_Exit at left_.

ALEXANDER [_alone, springing up_]. Ha! ha! ha! _soirees_, balls at the
club, box at the theatre, dresses and ornaments after the latest
fashion! Am I a milliona