women go out and teach and heal the peasants; how can I suddenly begin to do it?
Sonia. How can you live here and not do it? Wait awhile, you will get used to it all. [Embraces her] Don’t be sad, dearest. [Laughing] You feel miserable and restless, and can’t seem to fit into this life, and your restlessness is catching. Look at Uncle Vanya, he does nothing now but haunt you like a shadow, and I have left my work to-day to come here and talk with you. I am getting lazy, and don’t want to go on with it. Dr. Astroff hardly ever used to come here; it was all we could do to persuade him to visit us once a month, and now he has abandoned his forestry and his practice, and comes every day. You must be a witch.
Voitski. Why should you languish here? Come, my dearest, my beauty, be sensible! The blood of a Nixey runs in your veins. Oh, won’t you let yourself be one? Give your nature the reins for once in your life; fall head over ears in love with some other water sprite and plunge down head first into a deep pool, so that the Herr Professor and all of us may have our hands free again.
Helena. [Angrily] Leave me alone! How cruel you are!
Voitski. [Preventing her] There, there, my beauty, I apologize. [He kisses her hand] Forgive me.
Helena. Confess that you would try the patience of an angel.
Voitski. As a peace offering I am going to fetch some flowers which I picked for you this morning: some autumn roses, beautiful, sorrowful roses.
Sonia. Autumn roses, beautiful, sorrowful roses!
Helena. September already! How shall we live through the long winter here? [A pause] Where is the doctor?
