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tell you the truth。 Oh； my very dear； you will go with me？ You will？ You
will not forsake me？
TRIGORIN。 I have no will of my own； I never had。 I am too indolent；
too submissive； too phlegmatic； to have any。 Is it possible that women like
that？ Take me。 Take me away with you； but do not let me stir a step from
your side。
ARKADINA。 ＇To herself＇ Now he is mine！ ＇Carelessly； as if nothing
unusual had happened＇ Of course you must stay here if you really want to。
I shall go； and you can follow in a week's time。 Yes； really； why should
you hurry away？
TRIGORIN。 Let us go together。
ARKADINA。 As you like。 Let us go together then。 ＇A pause。
TRIGORIN writes something in his note…book＇ What are you writing？
TRIGORIN。 A happy expression I heard this morning： 〃A grove of
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maiden pines。〃 It may be useful。 ＇He yawns＇ So we are really off again；
condemned once more to railway carriages； to stations and restaurants； to
Hamburger steaks and endless arguments！
SHAMRAEFF comes in。
SHAMRAEFF。 I am sorry to have to inform you that your carriage is
at the door。 It is time to start； honoured madam； the train leaves at two…five。
Would you be kind enough； madam； to remember to inquire for me where
Suzdaltzeff the actor is now？ Is he still alive； I wonder？ Is he well？ He and
I have had many a jolly time together。 He was inimitable in 〃The Stolen
Mail。〃 A tragedian called Izmailoff was in the same company； I remember；
who was also quite remarkable。 Don't hurry； madam； you still have five
minutes。 They were both of them conspirators once； in the same
melodrama； and one night when in the course of the play they were
suddenly discovered； instead of saying 〃We have been trapped！〃 Izmailoff
cried out： 〃We have been rapped！〃 ＇He laughs＇ Rapped！
While he has been talking JACOB has been busy with the trunks； and
the maid has brought ARKADINA her hat； coat； parasol； and gloves。 The
cook looks hesitatingly through the door on the right； and finally comes
into the room。 PAULINA comes in。 MEDVIEDENKO comes in。
PAULINA。 ＇Presenting ARKADINA with a little basket＇ Here are
some plums for the journey。 They are very sweet ones。 You may want to
nibble something good on the way。
ARKADINA。 You are very kind； Paulina。
PAULINA。 Good…bye； my dearie。 If things have not been quite as you
could have wished； please forgive us。 ＇She weeps。＇
ARKADINA。 It has been delightful； delightful。 You mustn't cry。
SORIN comes in through the door on the left； dressed in a long coat
with a cape； and carrying his hat and cane。 He crosses the room。
SORIN。 Come； sister； it is time to start； unless you want to miss the
train。 I am going to get into the carriage。 ＇He goes out。＇
MEDVIEDENKO。 I shall walk quickly to the station and see you off
there。 ＇He goes out。＇
ARKADINA。 Good…bye； all！ We shall meet again next summer if we
live。 ＇The maid servant； JACOB； and the cook kiss her hand＇ Don't forget
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The Sea…Gull
me。 ＇She gives the cook a rouble＇ There is a rouble for all three of you。
THE COOK。 Thank you； mistress； a pleasant journey to you。
JACOB。 God bless you； mistress。
SHAMRAEFF。 Send us a line to cheer us up。 ＇TO TRIGORIN＇ Good…
bye； sir。
ARKADINA。 Where is Constantine？ Tell him I am starting。 I must say
good…bye to him。 ＇To JACOB＇ I gave the cook a rouble for all three of
you。
All go out through the door on the right。 The stage remains empty。
Sounds of farewell are heard。 The maid comes running back to fetch the
basket of plums which has been forgotten。 TRIGORIN comes back。
TRIGORIN。 I had forgotten my cane。 I think I left it on the terrace。
＇He goes toward the door on the right and meets NINA； who comes in at
that moment＇ Is that you？ We are off。
NINA。 I knew we should meet again。 ＇With emotion＇ I have come to
an irrevocable decision； the die is cast： I am going on the stage。 I am
deserting my father and abandoning everything。 I am beginning life anew。
I am going； as you are； to Moscow。 We shall meet there。
TRIGORIN。 ＇Glancing about him＇ Go to the Hotel Slavianski Bazar。
Let me know as soon as you get there。 I shall be at the Grosholski House
in Moltchanofka Street。 I must go now。 ＇A pause。＇
NINA。 Just one more minute！
TRIGORIN。 ＇In a low voice＇ You are so beautiful！ What bliss to think
that I shall see you again so soon！ ＇She sinks on his breast＇ I shall see
those glorious eyes again； that wonderful； ineffably tender smile； those
gentle features with their expression of angelic purity！ My darling！ ＇A
prolonged kiss。＇
The curtain falls。
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Two years elapse between the third and fourth acts。
ACT IV
A sitting…room in SORIN'S house； which has been converted into a
writing…room for TREPLIEFF。 To the right and left are doors leading into
inner rooms； and in the centre is a glass door opening onto a terrace。
Besides the usual furniture of a sitting…room there is a writing…desk in the
right…hand corner of the room。 There is a Turkish divan near the door on
the left； and shelves full of books stand against t he walls。 Books are lying
scattered about on the windowsills and chairs。 It is evening。 The room is
dimly lighted by a shaded lamp on a table。 The wind moans in the tree
tops and whistles down the chimney。 The watchman in the garden is heard
sounding his rattle。 MEDVIEDENKO and MASHA come in。
MASHA。 ＇Calling TREPLIEFF＇ Mr。 Constantine； where are you？
＇Looking about her＇ There is no one here。 His old uncle is forever asking
for Constantine； and can't live without him for an instant。
MEDVIEDENKO。 He dreads being left alone。 ＇Listening to the wind＇
This is a wild night。 We have had this storm for two days。
MASHA。 ＇Turning up the lamp＇ The waves on the lake are enormous。
MEDVIEDENKO。 It is very dark in the garden。 Do you know； I think
that old theatre ought to be knocked down。 It is still standing there； naked
and hideous as a skeleton； with the curtain flapping in the wind。 I thought I
heard a voice weeping in it as I passed there last night。
MASHA。 What an idea！ ＇A pause。＇
M