That's the kind of face you have. _(Pointing his finger at him)_ She also has a face, and she. And father too. And then there are other faces. There are a lot of faces. I sit in the tavern and see everything. Nothing escapes me. You can't fool me. Some faces are small and some are large, and all of them glide and glide--Some are far away, and some are as close to me as if they wanted to kiss me or bite my nose. They have teeth. SAVVA All right, Tony, now you can go. We'll talk about the faces later. Your own face is funny enough. TONY Yes, of course. I, too, have a face. SAVVA All right, all right. Go now. Don't forget to send in the whiskey. TONY As in the daytime so at night. A lot of faces. _(From the door)_ And in regards to whiskey, maybe I'll send it and maybe I won't. I can't tell yet. SAVVA _(to Lipa)_ Has he been that way a long time? LIPA I don't know. I think so. He drinks an awful lot. PELAGUEYA _(going)_ No wonder. You're enough to drive a man to drink. Cranks. _(Exit)_ LIPA My, how stifling! I don't know what to do with myself. Say, Savva, why aren't you nicer to Polya? She is such a wretched creature. SAVVA A slavish soul. LIPA It isn't her fault if she's that way. SAVVA _(coldly)_ Nor mine either. LIPA Oh, Savva, if you only knew the terrible life people lead here. The men drink, and beat their wives, and the women-- SAVVA I know. LIPA You say it so calmly. I have been waiting very much to have a talk with you. SAVVA Go ahead. LIPA You'll soon be leaving us, I suppose. SAVVA Yes. LIPA Then I won't have any chance to talk to you. You are scarcely ever at home. This is the first time, pretty nearly. It seems so strange that you should enjoy playing with the children, you a grown man, big as a bear. SAVVA _(merrily)_ No, Lipa, they play very well. Misha is very good at the game, and I have a hard time holding up my end of it. I lost him three pairs yesterday. LIPA Why, he is only ten years old.-- SAVVA Well, what of it? The children are the only human beings here. They are the wisest part of the-- LIPA _(with a smile)_ And I? How about me? SAVVA _(looking at her)_ You? Why, you are like the rest. _[A pause. Being offended, Lipa's languor disappears to some extent._ LIPA Maybe I bore you. SAVVA No, you make no difference to me one way or another. I am never bored. LIPA _(with a constrained smile)_ Thank you, I am glad of that at least. Were you in the monastery to-day? You go there often, don't you? SAVVA Yes, I was there. Why? LIPA I suppose you don't remember--I love our monastery. It is so beautiful. At times it looks so pensive. I like it because it's so old. Its age gives it a solemnity, a stern serenity and detachment. SAVVA Do you read many books? LIPA _(blushing)_ I used to read a lot. You know I spent four winters in Moscow with Aunt Glasha. Why do you ask? SAVVA Never mind. Go on. LIPA Does what I say sound ridiculous? SAVVA No, go on. LIPA