MATRYoNA. Ah, sonny, how you look at it! How can a woman manage such affairs? Even if she does get the money, is she capable of arranging it all? One knows what a woman is! You're a man anyhow. You can hide it, and all that. You see, you've after all got more sense, in case of anything happening.

NIKiTA. Oh, your woman's notions are all so inexpedient!

MATRYoNA. Why inexpedient? You just collar the money, and the woman's in your hands. And then should she ever turn snappish you'd be able to tighten the reins!

NIKiTA. Bother you all,--I'm going.

ANiSYA (quite pale, runs out of the hut and round the corner to MATRYoNA). So it was, it was on him! Here it is!

[Shows that she has something under her ap.r.o.n.

MATRYoNA. Give it to Nikita; he'll hide it. Nikita, take it and hide it somewhere.

NIKiTA. All right, give here!

ANiSYA. O--oh, my poor head! No, I'd better do it myself.

[Goes towards the gate.

MATRYoNA (seizing her by the arm). Where are you going to? You'll be missed. There's the sister coming; give it him; he knows what to do.

Eh, you blockhead!

ANiSYA (stops irresolutely). Oh, my head, my head!

NIKiTA. Well, give it here. I'll shove it away somewhere.

ANiSYA. Where will you shove it to?

NIKiTA (laughing). Why, are you afraid?

[Enter AKOULiNA, carrying clothes from the wash.

ANiSYA. O--oh, my poor head! (Gives the money.) Mind, Nikita.

NIKiTA. What are you afraid of? I'll hide it so that I'll not be able to find it myself.

[Exit.

ANiSYA (stands in terror). Oh dear, and supposing he....

MATRYoNA. Well, is he dead?

ANiSYA. Yes, he seems dead. He did not move when I took it.

MATRYoNA. Go in, there's Akoulina.

ANiSYA. Well there, I've done the sin and he has the money....

MATRYoNA. Have done and go in! There's Martha coming!

ANiSYA. There now, I've trusted him. What's going to happen now?

[Exit.

Martha (enters from one side, AKOULiNA enters from the other. To AKOULiNA). I should have come before, but I was at my daughter's.

Well, how's the old man? Is he dying?

AKOULiNA (puts down the clothes). Don't know; I've been to the river.

Martha (pointing to MATRYoNA). Who's that?

MATRYoNA. I'm from Zouevo. I'm Nikita's mother from Zouevo, my dearie.

Good afternoon to you. He's withering, withering away, poor dear--your brother, I mean. He came out himself. "Send for my sister," he said, "because," said he.... Dear me, why, I do believe he's dead!

ANiSYA (runs out screaming. Clings to a post, and begins wailing).[4]

Oh, oh, ah! who-o-o-o-m have you left me to, why-y-y have you dese-e-e-e-rted me--a miserable widow ... to live my life alone....

Why have you closed your bright eyes....

[Enter NEIGHBOR. MATRYoNA and NEIGHBOR catch hold of ANiSYA under the arms to support her. AKOULiNA and MARTHA go into the hut. A crowd a.s.sembles.

A VOICE IN THE CROWD. Send for the old women to lay out the body.

MATRYoNA (rolls up her sleeves). Is there any water in the copper? But I daresay the samovar is still hot. I'll also go and help a bit.

CURTAIN

ACT III

The same hut. Winter. Nine months have pa.s.sed since Act II. ANiSYA, plainly dressed, sits before a loom weaving. NAN is on the oven.

MiTRITCH (an old laborer, enters and slowly takes off his outdoor things). Oh Lord, have mercy! Well, hasn't the master come home yet?

ANiSYA. What?

MiTRITCH. Nikita isn't back from town, is he?

ANiSYA. No.

MiTRITCH. Must have been on the spree. Oh Lord!

ANiSYA. Have you finished in the stackyard?

MiTRITCH. What d'you think? Got it all as it should be, and covered everything with straw! I don't like doing things by halves! Oh Lord!

holy Nicholas! (Picks at the corns on his hands.) But it's time he was back.