SCENE IX
GORDÉY KÁRPYCH, KÓRSHUNOV, LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA, ANNA IVÁNOVNA, MÁSHA, LÍZA and girls.
KÓRSHUNOV. [Seats himself near LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA] I'm not like you, Lyubóv Gordéyevna; you didn't even want to kiss me, he, he, he! And I've brought you a little present.
LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA. You needn't have taken the trouble.
KÓRSHUNOV. Here I've brought you some diamonds, he, he! [Gives them to her.
LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA. Oh, they're earrings! I thank you humbly.
ANNA IVÁNOVNA. Show them to us.
MÁSHA. But they are charming!
LÍZA. And in such good taste!
KÓRSHUNOV. Give me your hand. [Takes it and kisses it] You see, I like you very much, he, he, he! I like you very much; well, but you don't like me, I suppose?
LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA. Why shouldn't I like you?
KÓRSHUNOV. Why? You like some one else, that's why. But you will come to love me! I'm a good man—a jolly man, he, he, he!
LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA. I don't know what you are talking about.
KÓRSHUNOV. I say, you will come to love me. Why not? I'm not old yet. [Looks at her] Am I an old man? He, he, he! Well, well, there's no harm in that. To make up for it you shall wear cloth of gold. I haven't any money! I'm a poor man. I've only got about five hundred thousand, he, he, he! In silver! [Takes her hand.
LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA. [Rising] I don't need your money.
GORDÉY KÁRPYCH. Lyubóv, where are you going?
LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA. To mother!
GORDÉY KÁRPYCH. Wait! She'll come here.
LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA sits down.
KÓRSHUNOV. You don't want to sit by the old man? Give me your hand, young lady; I will kiss it.
LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA. [Gives her hand] Oh, good heavens!
KÓRSHUNOV. What a hand! He, he, he! Like velvet! [Strokes her hand, and then puts on a diamond ring.
LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA. [Freeing her hand] Oh, let me go! I don't want it; I don't want it!
KÓRSHUNOV. That's all right; it's no loss to me—it won't ruin me.
LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA. But I don't want it. Give it to whomever you like. [Takes it off and returns it.
KÓRSHUNOV. I gave it to you, and I won't take it back! He, he, he!
Enter PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA, and after her, ARÍNA and EGÓRUSHKA with wine and glasses.