Reading Chekhov Together

Added: 2026-05-15

[00:00:02]We're going to recheck off, kitty.

[00:00:05]A blunder.

[00:00:07]First published in January 1886.

[00:00:10]Collected in love and other stories, 1922.

[00:00:14]Ilya Sergeich Peplov and his wife, Cleopatra Petrovna, were standing at the door, listening greedily.

[00:00:22]On the other side, in the little drawing room, a love scene was apparently taking place between two persons.

[00:00:28]Their daughter, Nastinka, and teacher of the district school called Shchupkin.

[00:00:34]"He's rising," whispered Peplov, quivering with impatience and rubbing his hands.

[00:00:40]"Now, Cleopatra, mind.

[00:00:42]As soon as they begin talking of their feelings, take down the icon from the wall, and we'll go in and bless them.

[00:00:49]We'll catch him.

[00:00:50]A blessing with an icon is sacred and binding.

[00:00:53]He couldn't get out of it if he brought it into court."

[00:00:57]On the other side of the door, this was the conversation.

[00:01:00]"Don't go on like that," said Shchupkin, striking a match against his checked trousers.

[00:01:06]"I never wrote you any letters."

[00:01:08]"I like that, as though I didn't know your writing," giggled the girl with an affected shriek, continually peeping at herself in the glass.

[00:01:17]"I knew it at once.

[00:01:18]And what a queer man you are, you are writing master, and you write like a spider.

[00:01:25]How can you teach writing if you write so badly yourself?"

[00:01:30]"That means nothing.

[00:01:32]The great thing in writing lessons is not the hand one writes, but keeping the boys in order.

[00:01:39]You hit one on the head with a ruler, make another kneel down.

[00:01:42]Besides, there's nothing in handwriting.

[00:01:45]Nekrasov was an author, but his handwriting's a disgrace.

[00:01:49]There's a specimen of it in his collected works.

[00:01:52]You are not Nekrasov."

[00:01:54]A sigh.

[00:01:55]"I should love to marry an author.

[00:01:57]He'd always be writing poems to me.

[00:02:00]I can write you a poem, too, if you like.

[00:02:03]What can you write about? Love, passion, your eyes.

[00:02:08]You'll be crazy when you read it.

[00:02:10]It would draw a tear from a stone.

[00:02:13]And if I write you a real poem, would you let me kiss your hand?

[00:02:18]There's nothing much. You can kiss it now if you like.

[00:02:21]Shupkin jumped up and making sheepish eyes bent over the fat little hand that smelt that smelt of egg soap.

[00:02:29]"Take down the icon." Peplov whispered in a fluster, pale with excitement, and buttoning his coat as he prodded his wife with his elbow.

[00:02:37]"Come along now."

[00:02:39]And without a second's delay, Peplov flung open the door. "Children." He muttered lifting up his arms and blinking tearfully, "The Lord bless you, my children. May you live, be fruitful, and multiply."

[00:02:54]"And I bless you, too." The mama brought out, crying with happiness.

[00:02:59]"May you be happy, my dear ones. Oh, you are taking me from my only treasure."

[00:03:04]She said to Shupkin, "Love my girl. Be good to her."

[00:03:08]Shupkin's mouth fell open with amazement and alarm.

[00:03:11]The parents' attack was so bold and unexpected he could not utter a single world word.

[00:03:18]"I'm in for it. I'm spliced." He thought, going limp with horror.

[00:03:22]"It's all over with you now, my boy.

[00:03:24]There's no escape."

[00:03:26]And he bowed his head submissively as though to say, "Take me. I'm vanquished."

[00:03:32]"Bla- blessings on you." The papa went on, and he, too, shed tears.

[00:03:38]"Natashenka, my daughter, stand by his side. Cleopatra, give me the icon."

[00:03:44]But at this point, the father suddenly left off weeping, and his face was contorted with anger.

[00:03:49]"You ninny." He said angrily to his wife, "you are an idiot."

[00:03:55]"Is that the icon?"

[00:03:57]"Huh, saints alive."

[00:04:00]What had happened?

[00:04:01]The riding master raised himself and saw that he was saved.

[00:04:05]In her flutter, the mama had snatched from the wall the portrait of Legend I can't [ __ ] say that.

[00:04:13]>> [laughter] >> from an author in mistake for the icon.

[00:04:17]Old Peplov and his wife stood disconcerted in the middle of the room holding the portrait aloft not knowing what to do or what to say.

[00:04:25]The riding master took advantage of the general confusion and slipped away.