The Cherry Orchard / Вишневый сад. Книга для чтения на английском языке

She’s quite homely in her ways, works all day, and, what matters most, she’s in love with you. And you’ve liked her for a long time.

Lopakhin. Well? I don’t mind… she’s a nice girl.

Pause.

Gaev. I’m offered a place in a bank. Six thousand roubles a year… Did you hear?

Lubov. What’s the matter with you! Stay where you are…

EnterFierswith an overcoat.

Fiers. [ToGaev] Please, sir, put this on, it’s damp.

Gaev. [Putting it on] You’re a nuisance, old man.

Fiers. It’s all very well… You went away this morning without telling me. [ExaminingGaev.]

Lubov. How old you’ve grown, Fiers!

Fiers. I beg your pardon?

Lopakhin. She says you’ve grown very old!

Fiers. I’ve been alive a long time. They were already getting ready to marry me before your father was born… [Laughs] And when the Emancipation came I was already first valet. Only I didn’t agree with the Emancipation and remained with my people… [Pause] I remember everybody was happy, but they didn’t know why.

Lopakhin. It was very good for them in the old days. At any rate, they used to beat them.

Fiers. [Not hearing] Rather. The peasants kept their distance from the masters and the masters kept their distance from the peasants, but now everything’s all anyhow and you can’t understand anything.

Gaev. Be quiet, Fiers. I’ve got to go to town tomorrow. I’ve been promised an introduction to a General who may lend me money on a bill.

Lopakhin. Nothing will come of it. And you won’t pay your interest, don’t you worry.

Lubov. He’s talking rubbish. There’s no General at all.

EnterTrofimov, Anya, andVarya.

Gaev. Here they are.

Anya. Mother’s sitting down here.

Lubov. [Tenderly] Come, come, my dears… [EmbracingAnyaandVarya] If you two only knew how much I love you. Sit down next to me, like that. [All sit down.]

Lopakhin.

Trofimov. That’s not your business.

Lopakhin. He’ll soon be fifty, and he’s still a student.

Trofimov. Leave off your silly jokes!

Lopakhin. Getting angry, eh, silly?

Trofimov. Shut up, can’t you.

Lopakhin. [Laughs] I wonder what you think of me?

Trofimov. I think, Ermolai Alexeyevitch, that you’re a rich man, and you’ll soon be a millionaire.