Act 1, Part 3 Summary

Kulygin comes in, greets Irina, gives her a little book he wrote detailing the history of the school where he and Olga both teach and introduces himself to Vershinin. Irina tells Kulygin he already gave her a copy of the book. Kulygin takes the book from her and gives it to Vershinin. Vershinin prepares to go, but Olga and Irina insist he join them for lunch. He agrees to stay and goes with Olga into the dining room in the back. Kulygin chatters about the tradition of Sunday rest. He comments on how the rugs should be cleaned, how life must be ordered, how glad he is that Masha loves him, how the curtains should be cleaned and how he and Masha have been invited to join the director of the school for a walk. Masha irritably says she's not going...