KULIGIN. If there are thirteen at table then it means there are lovers present. It isn’t you, Ivan Romanovitch, hang it all.... [Laughter.] CHEBUTIKIN. I’m a hardened sinner, but I really don’t see why Natalia Ivanovna should blush.... [Loud laughter; NATASHA runs out into the sitting-room, followed by ANDREY.] ANDREY. Don’t pay any attention to them! Wait... do stop, please.... NATASHA. I’m shy... I don’t know what’s the matter with me and they’re all laughing at me. It wasn’t nice of me to leave the table like that, but I can’t... I can’t. [Covers her face with her hands.] ANDREY. My dear, I beg you. I implore you not to excite yourself. I assure you they’re only joking, they’re kind people. My dear, good girl, they’re all kind and sincere people, and they like both you and me. Come here to the window, they can’t see us here.... [Looks round.] NATASHA. I’m so unaccustomed to meeting people! ANDREY. Oh your youth, your splendid, beautiful youth! My darling, don’t be so excited! Believe me, believe me... I’m so happy, my soul is full of love, of ecstasy.... They don’t see us! They can’t! Why, why or when did I fall in love with you--Oh, I can’t understand anything. My dear, my pure darling, be my wife! I love you, love you... as never before.... [They kiss.] [Two officers come in and, seeing the lovers kiss, stop in astonishment.] Curtain. ACT II [Scene as before. It is 8 p.m. Somebody is heard playing a concertina outside in’ the street. There is no fire. NATALIA IVANOVNA enters in indoor dress carrying a candle; she stops by the door which leads into ANDREY’S room.] NATASHA. What are you doing, Andrey? Are you reading? It’s nothing, only I.... [She opens another door, and looks in, then closes it] Isn’t there any fire.... ANDREY. [Enters with book in hand] What are you doing, Natasha? NATASHA. I was looking to see if there wasn’t a fire. It’s Shrovetide, and the servant is simply beside herself; I must look out that something doesn’t happen. When I came through the dining-room yesterday midnight, there was a candle burning. I couldn’t get her to tell me who had lighted it. [Puts down her candle] What’s the time? ANDREY. [Looks at his watch] A quarter past eight. NATASHA. And Olga and Irina aren’t in yet. The poor things are still at work. Olga at the teacher’s council, Irina at the telegraph office.... [Sighs] I said to your sister this morning, “Irina, darling, you must take care of yourself.” But she pays no attention. Did you say it was a quarter past eight? I am afraid little Bobby is quite ill. Why is he so cold? He was feverish yesterday, but to-day he is quite cold... I am so frightened! ANDREY. It’s all right, Natasha. The boy is well. NATASHA. Still, I think we ought to put him on a diet. I am so afraid. And the entertainers were to be here after nine; they had better not come, Audrey. ANDREY. I don’t know. After all, they were asked.