ZMEYUKINA.
I'm tired of you.... [Sits and fans herself.]
YATS.
No, you're simply heartless!
To be so cruel—if I may express myself—and to have such a beautiful, beautiful voice!
With such a voice, if you will forgive my using the word, you shouldn't be a midwife, but sing at concerts, at public gatherings!
For example, how divinely you do that fioritura... that... [Sings]
"I loved you; love was vain then...."
Exquisite!
ZMEYUKINA. [Sings]
"I loved you, and may love again."
Is that it?
YATS.
That's it!
Beautiful!
ZMEYUKINA.
No, I've no voice to-day....
There, wave this fan for me... it's hot! [To APLOMBOV] Epaminond Maximovitch, why are you so melancholy?
A bridegroom shouldn't be!
Aren't you ashamed of yourself, you wretch?
Well, what are you so thoughtful about?
APLOMBOV.
Marriage is a serious step!
Everything must be considered from all sides, thoroughly.
ZMEYUKINA.
What beastly sceptics you all are!
I feel quite suffocated with you all around....
Give me atmosphere!
Do you hear?
Give me atmosphere! [Sings a few notes.]
YATS.
Beautiful!
Beautiful!
ZMEYUKINA.
Fan me, fan me, or I feel I shall have a heart attack in a minute.
Tell me, please, why do I feel so suffocated?
YATS.
It's because you're sweating....
ZMEYUKINA.
Foo, how vulgar you are!
Don't dare to use such words!
YATS.
Beg pardon!
Of course, you're used, if I may say so, to aristocratic society and....
ZMEYUKINA.
Oh, leave me alone!
Give me poetry, delight!
Fan me, fan me!
ZHIGALOV. [To DIMBA] Let's have another, what? [Pours out] One can always drink.
So long only, Harlampi Spiridonovitch, as one doesn't forget one's business.