PETKOFF.
(vexed). Now who could have supposed you were going to do such a thing?
SERGIUS.
(with fire). Everyone that knew me. But enough of myself and my affairs. How is Raina; and where is Raina?
RAINA.
(suddenly coming round the corner of the house and standing at the top of the steps in the path). Raina is here. (She makes a charming picture as they all turn to look at her. She wears an underdress of pale green silk, draped with an overdress of thin ecru canvas embroidered with gold. On her head she wears a pretty Phrygian cap of gold tinsel. Sergius, with an exclamation of pleasure, goes impulsively to meet her. She stretches out her hand: he drops chivalrously on one knee and kisses it.)
PETKOFF.
(aside to Catherine, beaming with parental pride). Pretty, isn’t it? She always appears at the right moment.
CATHERINE.
(impatiently). Yes: she listens for it. It is an abominable habit.
(Sergius leads Raina forward with splendid gallantry, as if she were a queen. When they come to the table, she turns to him with a bend of the head; he bows; and thus they separate, he coming to his place, and she going behind her father’s chair.)
RAINA.
(stooping and kissing her father). Dear father! Welcome home!
PETKOFF.
(patting her cheek). My little pet girl. (He kisses her; she goes to the chair left by Nicola for Sergius, and sits down.)
CATHERINE.
And so you’re no longer a soldier, Sergius.
SERGIUS.
I am no longer a soldier. Soldiering, my dear madam, is the coward’s art of attacking mercilessly when you are strong, and keeping out of harm’s way when you are weak. That is the whole secret of successful fighting. Get your enemy at a disadvantage; and never, on any account, fight him on equal terms. Eh, Major!