Astrov is right to assume that Yelena isn’t interested in his forestry work, as she hasn’t shown interest in work of any kind so far. This creates a disconnect between the two characters, even as Astrov tries to make her see what he’s talking about, and why he takes it so seriously. As usual, Astrov is looking ahead to future generations and considering his legacy while the people around him remain focused on themselves. Ironically, this blind selfishness is exactly what he’s warning against. At this moment, Astrov and Yelena embody hard work and idleness, respectively, so it’s no wonder they fail to connect over Astrov’s maps.