ATLYA : Well, there! It’s you, and papa said, “Go; there’s a merchant come for his goods.” How do you do, Ivan Vassilevitch? : How do you do, honoured Natalya Stepanovna? : You must excuse my apron and neglige .
We’re shelling peas for drying. Why haven’t you been here for such a long time? Sit down... [ They seat themselves.
] Won’t you have some lunch? : No, thank you, I’ve had some already. : Then smoke. Here are the matches.
The weather is splendid now, but yesterday it was so wet that the workmen didn’t do anything all day. How much hay have you stacked? Just think, I felt greedy and had a whole field cut, and now I’m not at all pleased about it because I’m afraid my hay may rot. I ought to have waited a bit.
But what’s this? Why, you’re in evening dress! Well, I never! Are you going to a ball or what?
Though I must say you look better... Tell me, why are you got up like that? : [ excited ] You see, honoured Natalya Stepanovna... the fact is, I’ve made up my mind to ask you to hear me out...
Of course you’ll be surprised and perhaps even angry, but a... [ aside ] It’s awfully cold! : What’s the matter? [ pause ] Well?
: I shall try to be brief. You must know, honoured Natalya Stepanovna, that I have long, since my childhood, in fact, had the privilege of knowing your family. My late aunt and her husband, from whom, as you know, I inherited my land, always had the greatest respect for your father and your late mother. The Lomovs and the Chubukovs have always had the most friendly, and I might almost say the most affectionate, regard for each other.
And, as you know, my land is a near neighbour of yours. You will remember that my Oxen Meadows touch your birchwoods. : Excuse my interrupting you. You say, “my Oxen Meadows”.
But are they yours? : Yes, mine. : What are you talking about?