NURSE. I'm coming, I'm coming. [Exit].
ANNA PÁVLOVNA. Nurse says she keeps on crying.… Why can't she control herself?
SÁSHA. Well really, mother, you are amazing!… A woman has left her husband, her child's father, and you expect her to be calm!
ANNA PÁVLOVNA. Well, not calm … But what's done is done! If I, her mother, not only allowed my daughter to leave her husband, but am even glad she has done it, that shows he deserved it. One ought to rejoice, not to grieve, at the chance of freeing oneself from such a bad man!
SÁSHA. Mother, why say such things? You know it's not true! He's not bad—but on the contrary, he's a wonderful man, in spite of his weaknesses.
ANNA PÁVLOVNA. Yes indeed, a “wonderful” man—as soon as he has money in his pocket—his own or other people's.…
SÁSHA. Mother! He has never taken other people's!
ANNA PÁVLOVNA. Yes he has—his wife's! Where's the difference?
SÁSHA. But he gave all his property to his wife!
ANNA PÁVLOVNA. Of course, when he knew that otherwise he was sure to squander it all!