VARYA. [Weeps] If only God helped us.
GAEV. Don’t cry. My aunt’s very rich, but she doesn’t like us. My sister, in the first place, married an advocate, not a noble.... [ANYA appears in the doorway] She not only married a man who was not a noble, but she behaved herself in a way which cannot be described as proper. She’s nice and kind and charming, and I’m very fond of her, but say what you will in her favour and you still have to admit that she’s wicked; you can feel it in her slightest movements.
VARYA. [Whispers] Anya’s in the doorway.
GAEV. Really? [Pause] It’s curious, something’s got into my right eye... I can’t see properly out of it. And on Thursday, when I was at the District Court...
[Enter ANYA.]
VARYA. Why aren’t you in bed, Anya?
ANYA. Can’t sleep. It’s no good.
GAEV. My darling! [Kisses ANYA’S face and hands] My child.... [Crying] You’re not my niece, you’re my angel, you’re my all.... Believe in me, believe...
ANYA. I do believe in you, uncle. Everybody loves you and respects you... but, uncle dear, you ought to say nothing, no more than that. What were you saying just now about my mother, your own sister? Why did you say those things?
GAEV. Yes, yes. [Covers his face with her hand] Yes, really, it was awful. Save me, my God! And only just now I made a speech before a bookcase... it’s so silly! And only when I’d finished I knew how silly it was.