LOPAKHIN. Up to now in the villages there were only the gentry and the labourers, and now the people who live in villas have arrived. All towns now, even small ones, are surrounded by villas. And it’s safe to say that in twenty years’ time the villa resident will be all over the place. At present he sits on his balcony and drinks tea, but it may well come to pass that he’ll begin to cultivate his patch of land, and then your cherry orchard will be happy, rich, splendid.... GAEV. [Angry] What rot! [Enter VARYA and YASHA.] VARYA. There are two telegrams for you, little mother. [Picks out a key and noisily unlocks an antique cupboard] Here they are. LUBOV. They’re from Paris.... [Tears them up without reading them] I’ve done with Paris. GAEV. And do you know, Luba, how old this case is? A week ago I took out the bottom drawer; I looked and saw figures burnt out in it. That case was made exactly a hundred years ago. What do you think of that? What? We could celebrate its jubilee. It hasn’t a soul of its own, but still, say what you will, it’s a fine bookcase. PISCHIN. [Astonished] A hundred years.... Think of that! GAEV. Yes... it’s a real thing. [Handling it] My dear and honoured case! I congratulate you on your existence, which has already for more than a hundred years been directed towards the bright ideals of good and justice; your silent call to productive labour has not grown less in the hundred years [Weeping] during which you have upheld virtue and faith in a better future to the generations of our race, educating us up to ideals of goodness and to the knowledge of a common consciousness. [Pause.] LOPAKHIN. Yes.... LUBOV. You’re just the same as ever, Leon. GAEV. [A little confused] Off the white on the right, into the corner pocket. Red ball goes into the middle pocket! LOPAKHIN. [Looks at his watch] It’s time I went. YASHA. [Giving LUBOV ANDREYEVNA her medicine] Will you take your pills now? PISCHIN. You oughtn’t to take medicines, dear madam; they do you neither harm nor good.... Give them here, dear madam. [Takes the pills, turns them out into the palm of his hand, blows on them, puts them into his mouth, and drinks some kvass] There! LUBOV. [Frightened] You’re off your head! PISCHIN. I’ve taken all the pills. LOPAKHIN. Gormandizer! [All laugh.] FIERS. They were here in Easter week and ate half a pailful of cucumbers.... [Mumbles.] LUBOV. What’s he driving at? VARYA. He’s been mumbling away for three years. We’re used to that. YASHA. Senile decay. [CHARLOTTA IVANOVNA crosses the stage, dressed in white: she is very thin and tightly laced; has a lorgnette at her waist.] LOPAKHIN. Excuse me, Charlotta Ivanovna, I haven’t said “How do you do” to you yet. [Tries to kiss her hand.] CHARLOTTA. [Takes her hand away] If you let people kiss your hand, then they’ll want your elbow, then your shoulder, and then... LOPAKHIN. My luck’s out to-day! [All laugh] Show us a trick, Charlotta Ivanovna!