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and don't catch cold。 Keep an eye on my boy。 Take good care of him；
guide him along the proper paths。 ＇A pause＇ I am going away； and so shall
never find out why Constantine shot himself； but I think the chief reason
was jealousy； and the sooner I take Trigorin away； the better。
SORIN。 There werehow shall I explain it to you？other reasons
besides jealousy for his act。 Here is a clever young chap living in the
depths of the country； without money or position； with no future ahead of
him； and with nothing to do。 He is ashamed and afraid of being so idle。 I
am devoted to him and he is fond of me； but nevertheless he feels that he
is useless here； that he is little more than a dependent in this house。 It is
the pride in him。
ARKADINA。 He is a misery to me！ ＇Thoughtfully＇ He might possibly
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enter the army。
SORIN。 ＇Gives a whistle； and then speaks with hesitation＇ It seems to
me that the best thing for him would be if you were to let him have a little
money。 For one thing； he ought to be allowed to dress like a human being。
See how he looks！ Wearing the same little old coat that he has had for
three years； and he doesn't even possess an overcoat！ ＇Laughing＇ And it
wouldn't hurt the youngster to sow a few wild oats； let him go abroad； say；
for a time。 It wouldn't cost much。
ARKADINA。 Yes； but However； I think I might manage about his
clothes； but I couldn't let him go abroad。 And no； I don't think I can let him
have his clothes even； now。 ＇Decidedly＇ I have no money at present。
SORIN laughs。
ARKADINA。 I haven't indeed。
SORIN。 ＇Whistles＇ Very well。 Forgive me； darling； don't be angry。 You
are a noble； generous woman！
ARKADINA。 ＇Weeping＇ I really haven't the money。
SORIN。 If I had any money of course I should let him have some
myself； but I haven't even a penny。 The farm manager takes my pension
from me and puts it all into the farm or into cattle or bees； and in that way
it is always lost for ever。 The bees die； the cows die； they never let me
have a horse。
ARKADINA。 Of course I have some money； but I am an actress and
my expenses for dress alone are enough to bankrupt me。
SORIN。 You are a dear； and I am very fond of you； indeed I am。 But
something is the matter with me again。 ＇He staggers＇ I feel giddy。 ＇He
leans against the table＇ I feel faint； and all。
ARKADINA。 ＇Frightened ＇ Peter！ ＇She tries to support him＇ Peter！
dearest！ ＇She calls＇ Help！ Help！
TREPLIEFF and MEDVIEDENKO come in； TREPLIEFF has a
bandage around his head。
ARKADINA。 He is fainting！
SORIN。 I am all right。 ＇He smiles and drinks some water＇ It is all over
now。
TREPLIEFF。 ＇To his mother＇ Don't be frightened； mother； these
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attacks are not dangerous； my uncle often has them now。 ＇To his uncle＇
You must go and lie down； Uncle。
SORIN。 Yes； I think I shall； for a few minutes。 I am going to Moscow
all the same； but I shall lie down a bit before I start。 ＇He goes out leaning
on his cane。＇
MEDVIEDENKO。 ＇Giving him his arm＇ Do you know this riddle？ On
four legs in the morning； on two legs at noon； and on three legs in the
evening？
SORIN。 ＇Laughing＇ Yes； exactly； and on one's back at night。 Thank
you； I can walk alone。
MEDVIEDENKO。 Dear me； what formality！ ＇He and SORIN go out。＇
ARKADINA。 He gave me a dreadful fright。
TREPLIEFF。 It is not good for him to live in the country。 Mother； if
you would only untie your purse…strings for once； and lend him a thousand
roubles！ He could then spend a whole year in town。
ARKADINA。 I have no money。 I am an actress and not a banker。 ＇A
pause。＇
TREPLIEFF。 Please change my bandage for me； mother； you do it so
gently。
ARKADINA goes to the cupboard and takes out a box of bandages
and a bottle of iodoform。
ARKADINA。 The doctor is late。
TREPLIEFF。 Yes； he promised to be here at nine； and now it is noon
already。
ARKADINA。 Sit down。 ＇She takes the bandage off his head＇ You look
as if you had a turban on。 A stranger that was in the kitchen yesterday
asked to what nationality you belonged。 Your wound is almost healed。
＇She kisses his head＇ You won't be up to any more of these silly tricks
again； will you； when I am gone？
TREPLIEFF。 No； mother。 I did that in a moment of insane despair；
when I had lost all control over myself。 It will never happen again。 ＇He
kisses her hand＇ Your touch is golden。 I remember when you were still
acting at the State Theatre； long ago； when I was still a little chap； there
was a fight one day in our court； and a poor washerwoman was almost
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beaten to death。 She was picked up unconscious； and you nursed her till
she was well； and bathed her children in the washtubs。 Have you forgotten
it？
ARKADINA。 Yes； entirely。 ＇She puts on a new bandage。＇
TREPLIEFF。 Two ballet dancers lived in the same house； and they
used to come and drink coffee with you。
ARKADINA。 I remember that。
TREPLIEFF。 They were very pious。 ＇A pause＇ I love you again； these
last few days； as tenderly and trustingly as I did as a child。 I have no one
left me now but you。 Why； why do you let yourself be controlled by that
man？
ARKADINA。 You don't understand him； Constantine。 He has a
wonderfully noble personality。
TREPLIEFF。 Nevertheless； when he has been told that I wish to
challenge him to a duel his nobility does not prevent him from playing the
coward。 He is about to beat an ignominious retreat。
ARKADINA。 What nonsense！ I have asked him myself to go。
TREPLIEFF。 A noble personality indeed！ Here we are almost
quarrelling over him； and he is probably in the garden laughing at us at
this very moment； or else enlightening Nina's mind and trying to persuade
her into thinking him a man of genius。
ARKADINA。 You enjoy saying unpleasant things to me。 I have the
greatest respect for that