MÍTYA. Come on. The office is empty now—it's a holiday.
LYUBÍM KÁRPYCH. Oh, but I'll play a funny joke on brother. [Falls asleep.
MÍTYA. [Walks towards the door and takes the letter out of his pocket] What can she have written? I'm frightened!—My hands tremble!—Well, what is to be will be! I'll read it. [Reads] "And I love you. Lyubóv Tortsóv." [Clutches his head and runs out.
ACT II
Guest-room in the house of TORTSÓV. Against the rear wall a sofa, in front of the sofa a round table and six armchairs, three on each side; in the left corner a door; on each wall a mirror, and under them little tables. A door in each side wall, and a door in the rear wall in the corner. On the stage it is dark; from the left door comes a light.
SCENE I
LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA and ANNA IVÁNOVNA enter through the lighted door.
ANNA IVÁNOVNA. Why don't they come, our fine lads? Shall we go and fetch them?
LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA. No, you'd better not. Well, yes, if you like, fetch them. [Embraces her] Fetch them, Annushka.
ANNA IVÁNOVNA. Well, evidently you aren't happy without him!