hugs him round the neck.]

YASHA. What's the use of crying? [Drinks champagne] In six days I'll be
again in Paris. To-morrow we get into the express and off we go. I can
hardly believe it. Vive la France! It doesn't suit me here, I can't live
here... it's no good. Well, I've seen the uncivilized world; I have had
enough of it. [Drinks champagne] What do you want to cry for? You behave
yourself properly, and then you won't cry.

DUNYASHA. [Looks in a small mirror and powders her face] Send me a
letter from Paris. You know I loved you, Yasha, so much! I'm a sensitive
creature, Yasha.

YASHA. Somebody's coming.

[He bustles around the luggage, singing softly. Enter LUBOV ANDREYEVNA,
GAEV, ANYA, and CHARLOTTA IVANOVNA.]

GAEV. We'd better be off. There's no time left. [Looks at YASHA]
Somebody smells of herring!

LUBOV. We needn't get into our carriages for ten minutes.... [Looks
round the room] Good-bye, dear house, old grandfather. The winter will
go, the spring will come, and then you'll exist no more, you'll be
pulled down. How much these walls have seen! [Passionately kisses her
daughter] My treasure, you're radiant, your eyes flash like two jewels!
Are you happy? Very?

ANYA. Very! A new life is beginning, mother!

GAEV. [Gaily] Yes, really, everything's all right now. Before the cherry
orchard was sold we all were excited and we suffered, and then, when
the question was solved once and for all, we all calmed down, and even
became cheerful. I'm a bank official now, and a financier... red in the
middle; and you, Luba, for some reason or other, look better, there's no
doubt about it.

LUBOV Yes. My nerves are better, it's true. [She puts on her coat and
hat] I sleep well. Take my luggage out, Yasha. It's time. [To ANYA] My
little girl, we'll soon see each other again.... I'm off to Paris. I'll
live there on the money your grandmother from Yaroslav sent along to buy
the estate--bless her!--though it won't last long.

ANYA. You'll come back soon, soon, mother, won't you? I'll get ready,
and pass the exam at the Higher School, and then I'll work and help
you. We'll read all sorts of books to one another, won't we? [Kisses
her mother's hands] We'll read in the autumn evenings; we'll read
many books, and a beautiful new world will open up before us....
[Thoughtfully] You'll come, mother....

LUBOV. I'll come, my darling. [Embraces her.]

[Enter LOPAKHIN. CHARLOTTA is singing to herself.]

GAEV. Charlotta is