[Says something to CHEBUTIKIN, then goes out quietly; CHEBUTIKIN touches TUZENBACH on the shoulder and whispers something to him.] IRINA. What is it? CHEBUTIKIN. Time for us to go. Good-bye. TUZENBACH. Good-night. It’s time we went. IRINA. But, really, the entertainers? ANDREY. [In confusion] There won’t be any entertainers. You see, dear, Natasha says that Bobby isn’t quite well, and so.... In a word, I don’t care, and it’s absolutely all one to me. IRINA. [Shrugging her shoulders] Bobby ill! MASHA. What is she thinking of! Well, if they are sent home, I suppose they must go. [To IRINA] Bobby’s all right, it’s she herself.... Here! [Taps her forehead] Little bourgeoise! [ANDREY goes to his room through the right-hand door, CHEBUTIKIN follows him. In the dining-room they are saying good-bye.] FEDOTIK. What a shame! I was expecting to spend the evening here, but of course, if the little baby is ill... I’ll bring him some toys to-morrow. RODE. [Loudly] I slept late after dinner to-day because I thought I was going to dance all night. It’s only nine o’clock now! MASHA. Let’s go into the street, we can talk there. Then we can settle things. (Good-byes and good nights are heard. TUZENBACH’S merry laughter is heard. [All go out] ANFISA and the maid clear the table, and put out the lights. [The nurse sings] ANDREY, wearing an overcoat and a hat, and CHEBUTIKIN enter silently.) CHEBUTIKIN. I never managed to get married because my life flashed by like lightning, and because I was madly in love with your mother, who was married. ANDREY. One shouldn’t marry. One shouldn’t, because it’s dull. CHEBUTIKIN. So there I am, in my loneliness. Say what you will, loneliness is a terrible thing, old fellow.... Though really... of course, it absolutely doesn’t matter! ANDREY. Let’s be quicker. CHEBUTIKIN. What are you in such a hurry for? We shall be in time. ANDREY. I’m afraid my wife may stop me. CHEBUTIKIN. Ah! ANDREY. I shan’t play to-night, I shall only sit and look on. I don’t feel very well.... What am I to do for my asthma, Ivan Romanovitch? CHEBUTIKIN. Don’t ask me! I don’t remember, old fellow, I don’t know. ANDREY. Let’s go through the kitchen. [They go out.] [A bell rings, then a second time; voices and laughter are heard.] IRINA. [Enters] What’s that? ANFISA. [Whispers] The entertainers! [Bell.] IRINA. Tell them there’s nobody at home, nurse. They must excuse us. [ANFISA goes out. IRINA walks about the room deep in thought; she is excited. SOLENI enters.] SOLENI. [In surprise] There’s nobody here.... Where are they all? IRINA. They’ve gone home. SOLENI. How strange. Are you here alone? IRINA. Yes, alone. [A pause] Good-bye. SOLENI. Just now I behaved tactlessly, with insufficient reserve. But you are not like all the others, you are noble and pure, you can see the truth.... You alone can understand me. I love you, deeply, beyond measure, I love you. IRINA. Good-bye! Go away.