But if by ill luck, it were to?
VARVARA. Her first sleep is sound; in the early morning now, there is more chance of her being awake.
KUDRIASH.
But there's never any knowing! Some evil spirit might rouse her up.
VARVARA. Well, even then! Our gate into the yard is locked on the inside, the garden side; she would knock and knock and then go away. And in the morning we'd declare we'd been sound asleep and heard nothing. Besides, Glasha's on the lookout; the faintest sound, she'd let us know in a minute. One can't do anything without some risk! No, indeed! the only thing is to mind what one's about and not get into a scrape. (Kudriash strikes a few cords on the guitar. Varvara leans on the shoulder of Kudriash who plays softly, paying no attention to her. Varvara yawning) How could we find out what time it is?
KUDRIASH.
It's one o'clock.
VARVARA.
How do you know?
KUDRIASH.
A watchman struck one blow on his board just now.
VARVARA (yawning). It's late. Shout to them! We'll get out earlier tomorrow, so as to have longer.
KUDRIASH (gives a whistle and then sings loudly)
They're all going home!
They're all going home!
But I won't go home!
BORIS (behind the scenes).
I hear!
VARVARA (gets up). Well, good-bye! (yawns, then gives a cool kiss to Kudriash, as if he were an old and very intimate friend). To-morrow mind you come earlier! (Looks in the direction in which Boris and Katerina went away) You've said good-bye enough, you're not parting for ever, you'll see each other to-morrow (yawns and stretches, Katerina hurries in, followed by Boris).
SCENE IX
KUDRIASH, VARVARA, BORIS and KATERINA.
KATERINA. Come, let us go now, let us go! (They go up the path, Katerina turns round). Good-bye!
BORIS.
Till to-morrow.
KATERINA.
Yes, to-morrow! Tell me what you dream to-night!
[The girls reach the gate.
BORIS.
Yes, yes.
KUDRIASH (sings and plays guitar)
Come out, lassie, while you may
Till the glow of setting day!
Ai-lalee, while you may,
Till the glow of setting day!
VARVARA (at the gate).
Aye, my laddie, while I may,
Till the glow of break of day!
Ai-lalee, while I may,
Till the glow of break of day!
KUDRIASH.
When the sun has risen fair
And I may not linger mair.
[Exit singing.
ACT IV
SCENE I
In the foreground a narrow arcade running round an old building which has begun to fall into decay; bushes and grass about it; in the background the banks of the Volga and view beyond it.
(Several Persons of both Sexes approach the Arcade.)
FIRST.
It's spotting with rain, seems as though it might be a storm coming on.
SECOND.
Look, it's gathering yonder.
FIRST.
A good thing we've somewhere to take shelter.
[They all go under the arches.
A WOMAN. What a lot of folks out on the parade, too! To-day being a holiday, everyone's out walking. The merchants' ladies all pranked out in their best.
FIRST.
They'll stand up somewhere out of the rain.
SECOND.
Look, at the people hurrying this way now!
FIRST (staring round at the walls). I say, old fellow, it must have been covered with paintings once, do you know. One can make them out even now, here and there.
SECOND. To be sure! Of course the walls were covered with paintings. Now it's all been let go to rack and ruin, and the old place is falling to pieces. There's been nothing done to it since the fire. But to be sure you don't remember that fire, it will be forty years ago.
FIRST. Whatever's this picture here, old fellow? It's not easy to make out what it's about.
SECOND.
That's a picture of the torments of hell.
FIRST.
Oh! so that's what it is!
SECOND. And there's folks of all sorts and conditions going down into the fire, see?
FIRST.
To be sure, yes, I understand it now.
SECOND.
Of every sort and rank.
FIRST.
And niggers too?
SECOND.
Yes, niggers too.
FIRST.
And I say, old fellow, what's this?
SECOND. That's the Lithuanian invasion. A battle, d'ye see? Our men fighting with the men of Lithuania.
FIRST.
Who were these Lithuanians?
SECOND.
Can't say. Lithuanians, to be sure.
FIRST.
But they do say, you know, they fell down on us from heaven.
SECOND.
I can't tell about that, I daresay they did.
A WOMAN. What ignorance! Why, everyone knows the Lithuanians fell from heaven. Well to be sure! and it was in memory of the battle with them that these mounds were made.
FIRST.
There, old fellow! That's so, you see!
[Enter Dikoy and Kuligin, his head bare. All the bystanders bow and assume a respectful air on seeing Dikoy.
SCENE II
The Same, DIKOY and KULIGIN.
DIKOY. Ugh, I'm wet through. (To Kuligin) Get away from me! Let me alone! (Angrily) Fool of a man!
KULIGIN. Saviol Prokofitch, it would be conferring a benefit, your worship, on all the residents in the town.
DIKOY.
Go along! A mighty benefit! Who wants such a benefit?
KULIGIN. And on you, indeed, your worship, Saviol Prokofitch. To be set up, for instance, on the parade in the open space. And as for expense,—the expense would be trifling: a stone column (indicates the size of each thing by gestures), a copper disc, round like this, and a pivot, an upright pivot (shows, gesticulating) of the simplest description. I will put it all up and carve the figures on the face myself too. And, your worship, when you are pleased to take a walk, or any other people are out walking, you will go up to it, and see at once what o'clock it is. As it is, it's a fine position and a fine view and all, but, as it were, it wants something. And we have visitors too, your worship, who come here to see our views, and it will always be an ornament,—a pleasant object for the eye to rest on.