Her free step is the dawn No darkness can waylay, Her laugh is the wild waterfall By winter never chained, Her hair the winds unreined, Her eyes unbridled sun, And all the waves are in her call That heard is never still, Her breath the clouds that hie Free as they list or will, And in her bosom find a greater sky! Ye mothers, come, forsake Dead fire and frozen hearth; The bones ye call your babes, awake, For in her lap she bears Sweet grain and golden ears That warming in their veins shall make The ruddy might of men; Your daughters that now lie Blanched, broken, still, shall then Lift up rose faces and forget to die. Old Winter in his snows Is covered, covered deep, For all above him lie his slain, And not until his breath Has warmed them out of death May he arise from his cold sleep. Good-by, good-by, good-by, Old Winter dead and white, No more meet you and I, A last and long, a long and last good-night! [_As the chorus is sung the last time, Vasil dances out among the peasants, who join hands with him and all move in a ring, singing_] _Orl._ I congratulate you. And now will you favor me with the copy? _Vasil._ [_Seeming to hesitate_] 'Tis hardly worthy---- _Orl._ [_Taking it_] Leave that to me. [_Glances disappointedly at song, repeating the first line_] Humph! Yes ... [_Puts it into his pocket_] So you are all true men enjoying yourselves? I've no objection. On the contrary. I'm in the humor to join you if my lady Bright-eyes [_looking at Vera_] will honor me. [_Vera rises, curtsies, and couples spring up, forming a dance, Orloff and Vera leading_] _Orl._ [_At close of the dance_] Thank you, Bright-eyes. I shall find no fairer partner at the ball, whither I must be going. And here, young man. I will leave you your song. It may be your _only_ copy. [_Brings out several papers from his pocket and looks them over_] Here is the song, but ... [_Assumes sudden sternness_] A serious matter. I have lost an important paper since I came into this room. [_Looks searchingly at their faces_] An important paper on official business. [_All are silent, betraying no emotion. He turns his gaze to Vera, who is sitting by her grandfather_] Ah, my little lady, perhaps your fingers were busy in the dance. Come forward, please. [_Vera steps out, bewildered_] _Vera._ I did not touch it. _Orl._ Of course not. Now will you shake your scarf, please? Yes, I will do it for you. [_Shakes her scarf and a paper drops to the floor. Orloff picks it up_] Ah, found! Good, but rather a sad affair for you, little one. Even fingers so dainty as yours must not meddle with the Czar's papers. _Vera._ I did not touch them!