[_Praskóvya's sitting-room. Street door in porch and a curtainless window at the back. It is night; the light of an oil-lamp in the street dimly shows snow-covered houses and falling snow. The room is plainly furnished: a bed, a curtain on a cord, some books, eikons on a shelf in the corner with a wick in a red glass bowl burning before them, paper flowers, and Easter eggs on strings. A photograph of a man of twenty hangs by the eikons. There are doors to kitchen and to the lodgers' rooms._ _Varvára is discovered sitting by a lamp darning stockings._ _There is an atmosphere of silence, solitude, and Russian monotony. The clock ticks. A man is seen passing in the street; his feet make no sound on the snowy ground. There is the sound of a concertina and a man who laughs in the distance out of doors. Then silence again._ _Enter Astéryi, stout and lazy; gray hair thrown untidily back, a rough beard. He is in slippers and dirty dressing-gown, with a big case full of Russian cigarettes in his pocket._] AST. Is Praskóvya Petróvna not at home? VAR. [_rising_]. She is not at home, Astéryi Ivanovitch. She has gone to Vespers at St. Pantaléimon's in the Marsh. It is the festival of the translation of St. Pantaléimon's relics. [_Varvára sits again. Astéryi walks to and fro smoking a cigarette._] Will you not have your game of patience as usual? AST. Without Praskóvya Petróvna? VAR. She would be sorry if you missed your game because she was late. You can play again when she returns; she likes to watch you. AST. Very well. [_Varvára gets a pack of cards. Astéryi sits at a table at one side and plays._] VAR. Shall I prepare the samovar? AST. Not yet; I will wait. How greasy these cards are [_laying out a patience_]. VAR. No wonder, Astéryi Ivanovitch. It is two years since you bought this pack. A VOICE [_without_]. Varvára! Varvára! There is no water in my jug. AST. There is one of the lodgers calling you. VAR. It is the schoolmaster. AST. Better not keep him waiting; he is an angry man. VAR. I will go. Excuse me, please. [_Exit Varvára. The clock ticks again. Astéryi pauses and meditates, then murmurs, "Oh, Hóspodi!" as if in surprise at being so terribly bored. The concertina plays a few notes. A knock at the street door._] AST. Who's there? Come in, come in! [_Enter Spiridón, a man with a cringing, crafty manner, in a sheepskin coat with snow on it. He stands by the door, facing the eikon, crossing himself with large gestures and bowing very low towards it._] SPIR. [_looking round_]. Good-day, sir, good-day. [_Crossing himself again._] May the holy saints preserve all in this house. AST. Ah! it's you, Spiridón? SPIR. Yes, sir. It is Spiridón the stonemason. AST. What brings you here, Spiridón? SPIR. Is Praskóvya Petróvna not at home? AST. No, she has gone to Vespers at St. Pantaléimon's in the Marsh.