The appearance of a new person in the village is always an event. When in the summer of 184 ... a new home teacher appeared in the rich estate of the Islayevs, the already established balance was somehow disturbed or, at least, shaken.
From the very first day, Aleksei Nikolayevich fell in love with his disciple - a ten-year-old Kolya Islayev. The teacher made him a bow, gets on a kite, promises to teach him how to swim. And how cleverly he climbs the trees! This is not the old tedious Schaaf, who teaches him German.
For the seventeen-year-old pupil of the Islayevs’ Vera it is easy and fun with the new teacher: they went to look at the dam, caught the squirrel, walked for a long time, fooled around a lot. Twenty-year-old maid Katya also noticed the young man and somehow changed to Matvei, who cares for her.
But the most subtle processes took place in the soul of the hostess - Natalia Petrovna Islayeva. Her Arkady Sergeevich is constantly busy, always building something, perfecting, putting things in order. Natalia Petrovna is alien and household concerns of her husband are boring for her.
A family friend Rakitin worries that recently Natalia Petrovna is constantly in a bad mood, some kind of change is taking place in her. Not in relation to him? When Alexei Nikolaevich appears, she is clearly animated. This was noticed by Shpigelsky, a district doctor who came to help Bolshintsov to win Vera. The applicant is forty-eight years old, clumsy, inept, uneducated. Natalia Petrovna is surprised at the suggestion: Vera is still so young. However, when Vera whispers something to Belyaev and both laugh, she nevertheless returns to the conversation about matchmaking.
Rakitin worries more and more: does he start to bore her? Nothing is more tedious than a sad mind. He has no illusions, but he hoped that her calm feeling with time would turn into something more. Yes, now his situation is quite funny. Natalia Petrovna talked with Belyaev, and immediately in the face of liveliness and gaiety, which never happened after talking with him. She even in a friendly way admits that Belyaev made a pretty strong impression on her. Rakitin hopes that this man infected her with his youth - and only.
Alone with herself she seems to remember: it's time to stop all this. Vera's tears in reply to Bolshintsov's proposal seemed to restore her the ability to see herself in true light. Let the girl not cry. Bolshintsov is no longer a question. But jealousy flares up again when Vera confesses that she likes Belyaev. Natalia Petrovna is now clear who the rival is, snd then she is horrified: what is she doing? She wants to marry a poor girl with an old man. Was she jealous of Vera? Yes, she is in love, but it's time to come round. Mikhail (Rakitin) should help her.
Rakitin believes that the teacher should be recommended to leave. And he himself will leave. Suddenly, Islaev appears and sees his wife leaning on Rakitin's shoulder, pressing the handkerchief to his eyes. Mikhail Alexandrovich is ready to explain, but a little later.
Natalya Petrovna is going to declare Belyaev herself the need to leave. At the same time she should find out whether precisely this girl is pleasant to him. But from the conversation with the teacher it turns out that he does not like Vera at all and is ready to tell her about it, but it's unlikely that after that he will be comfortable to stay in the house.
Meanwhile, Anna Semyonovna, the mother of Islaev, also witnessed a scene that awakened her son's jealousy, Lizaveta Bogdanovna informs this news to Shpigelsky, but he reassures: Mikhail Alexandrovich was never a dangerous person, but just a chatterbox. He himself is not like that. His proposal to Lizaveta Bogdanovna is like a business proposal, and she is quite well-disposed.
The opportunity to explain himself to Vera appears quickly. It is clear to Vera that he does not love her and that Natalya Petrovna has betrayed her secret. The reason is clear: Natalia Petrovna herself is in love with the teacher. Hence was the attempt to give her for Bolshintsov. In addition, Belyaev remains in the house. Apparently, Natalia Petrovna herself still hopes for something, because Vera is not dangerous to her. And Alexei Nikolayevich, maybe loves her. The teacher blushes, and it is clear to Vera that she was not mistaken. Natalia Petrovna presents this discovery to her. She is no longer a meek young girl, but an insulted woman.
Natalya Petrovna is again ashamed of her actions. It's time to stop cheating. It is decided: she sees Belyaev for the last time. She tells him about it, but at the same time admits that she loves him, that was jealous of Vera.
Belyaev is impressed by the recognition of a woman who was considered to be a higher one, so now he can not force himself to leave. No, Natalia Petrovna is adamant: they part for ever. Belyaev obeys, he says goodbye and wants to leave, when he hears a quiet "stay", stretches out his hands to her, but then Rakitin appears: what did Natalya Petrovna decide about Belyaev? Nothing. Their conversation should be forgotten, everything is over, everything has passed. Has it passed? Rakitin saw how Belyaev mingled, and ran away.
The appearance of Islaev makes the situation even more piquant: "What is this? Continuation of today's explanation? "He does not hide discontent and anxiety. Let Michail talk about their conversation with Natasha. The confusion makes him ask Rakitin directly whether he loves his wife. Yes, he does. Michail is going to leave. Well, it's made up correctly. But he's going to leave for a short while, because there's no one to replace him. At this moment, Belyaev appears, and Mikhail Alexandrovich informs him that he is leaving: for the rest of friends, a decent person must sacrifice something. And Alexey Nikolayevich would do the same, would not he?
Meanwhile Natalia Petrovna begs Vera to forgive her, kneels before her. But it's hard to overcome the dislike of a rival who is kind and gentle only because she feels loved. And Vera must stay with her in the house! No way, she can not bear her smile, she can not see how Natalia Petrovna bask in her happiness. The girl turns to Shpigelsky: is Bolshintsov really a good and kind person. The doctor vouches that he is excellent, honest and kind. (His eloquence is understandable, if Vera agrees, three horses are promised for him). Well, then Vera asks to convey that she accepts the offer. When Belyaev comes to say good-bye, Vera, in answer to his explanation, why he can not stay in the house, says that she herself will not remain here for long and will not disturb anyone.
A minute after Belyaev left, she became a witness to the despair and anger of Natalia Petrovna: he did not even want to say good-bye to her. Now they are equal with Vera.
Natalya Petrovna's voice and eyes are hateful, and Vera tries to calm her down saying that the benefactress will not be burdened with her presence for long. They can not live together. Natalia Petrovna, however, again came to her senses. Does Verochka want to leave her? But they are both saved now, everything has again come in order.
Islaev, finding his wife in frustration, reproaches Rakitin for not preparing Natasha. It was necessary not so suddenly to announce his departure. Does Natasha understand that Mikhail Alexandrovich is one of the best people? Yes, she knows that he is a fine person and they are all fine people. Without agreeing, Natalia Petrovna runs out, covering her face with her hands. Rakitin is particularly bitter with such a farewell, but a good-for-nothing chatterbox, and it is all for the better - it was time to stop these painful, consumptive relationships. However, it's time to go. With tears in his eyes Islaev says to Ratikin: "And yet, thank you! You're a friend, for sure!" But the end of surprises is not foreseen. Aleksey Nikolayevich was missing somewhere. Rakitin explains the reason: Verochka fell in love with the teacher, and he, like an honest man left.
Islaev’s head naturally was astonished. Everyone flaunts. Anna Semyonovna is even more puzzled. Belyaev left, Rakitin leaves, even the doctor, even Shpigelsky, hurried to the sick. Again, only Shaaf and Lizaveta Bogdanovna will remain close. What does she, by the way, think about this whole story? The companion sighs, lowers her eyes: "Maybe I will not have much time to stay here. And I'm leaving."
