Nurse. Fine calm! It makes me sick to look at her. She's just been writing something and crying all the time.
Sasha (to nurse). Lisa's looking for you.
[Sits in chair L. of table C.
Nurse. I'm going.
[Exits R. I.
Anna Pávlovna. Nurse says she's always crying. Why can't she try and calm herself a little?
Sasha. Well, really, Mother, you're amazing. How can you expect her to behave as if nothing had happened when she's just left her husband and taken her baby with her?
Anna Pávlovna. Well, I don't exactly, but that's all over. If I approve of my daughter's having left her husband, if I'm ever glad, well, you may be quite sure he deserved it. She has no reason to be miserable—on the contrary, she ought to be delighted at being freed from such a wretch.
Sasha. Mother! Why do you go on like this? It's not the truth and you know it. He's not a wretch, he's wonderful. Yes, in spite of all his weakness.
Anna Pávlovna. I suppose you'd like her to wait till he'd spent every kopec they had, and smile sweetly when be brought his gypsy mistresses home with him.