ALEXÁNDRA IVÁNOVNA. Yes, go, for you are getting too fat.
PETER SEMYÓNOVICH. Well, perhaps I will, but I must first fetch some cigarettes. [Exit].
ALEXÁNDRA IVÁNOVNA. Where are all the young ones?
LYÚBA. Styópa is cycling to the station, the tutor has gone to town with papa. The little ones are playing croquet, and Ványa is out there in the porch, playing with the dogs.
ALEXÁNDRA IVÁNOVNA. Well, has Styópa decided on anything?
LYÚBA. Yes. He has gone himself to hand in his application to enter the Horse-Guards. He was horribly rude to papa yesterday.
ALEXÁNDRA IVÁNOVNA. Of course, it's hard on him too.… Il n'y a pas de patience qui tienne.[15] The young man must begin to live, and he is told to go and plough!
LYÚBA. That's not what papa told him; he said …
ALEXÁNDRA IVÁNOVNA. Never mind. Still Styópa must begin life, and whatever he proposes, it's all objected to. But here he is himself.
The Priest steps aside, opens a book, and begins to read. Enter Styópa cycling towards the verandah.