LYÚBA. No, no, Mamma, please don't. It would spoil our whole evening. No, no, you must not.
MARY IVÁNOVNA. Well, as you please.
LYÚBA. All right then: after the dance, just before supper.
Enter Starkóvsky.
LYÚBA. Well, have you got them?
MARY IVÁNOVNA. I'll go and have a look at the little ones. [Exit with Alexándra Ivánovna].
STARKÓVSKY [carrying three cushions, which he steadies with his chin, and dropping things on the way] Don't trouble, Lyúbov Nikoláyevna, I'll pick them up. Well, you have prepared a lot of favours. If only I can manage to lead the dance properly! Ványa, come along.
VÁNYA [bringing more favours] This is the whole lot. Lyúba, Alexander Mikáylovich and I have a bet on, which of us will win the most favours.
STARKÓVSKY. It will be easy for you, for you know everybody here, and will gain them easily, while I shall have to charm the young ladies first before winning anything. It means that I am giving you a start of forty points.
VÁNYA. But then you are a fiancé, and I am a boy.