ARÍNA. Well, you! You frightened me enough! What are you doing here? Your mother is looking for you there, and here you are! Why are you wandering about in the dark! Oh, you modest maiden! Fairy princess. [LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA _goes out_] Well, really, wasn't some one there with her? [_Looks into the corner_] But I'm a silly old woman, I suspected some one! [_Lights the candles_] Oh, deary me, some trouble will be sure to come in my old age. [EGÓRUSHKA _enters_] Go along, Egórushka, and call the girls in from the neighbors; tell them Pelagéya Egórovna told you to invite them to come and sing songs. EGÓRUSHKA. Oh! how are you, Arína, my dear? ARÍNA. What are you so happy about, silly? EGÓRUSHKA. Why shouldn't I be happy? It's such fun! Ha, ha, ha! [_Jumps about._ ARÍNA. And maybe the mummers are coming; the young people wanted to dress up. EGÓRUSHKA. Oh, I shall die! Oh, Lord, I shall die! ARÍNA. What's the matter with you, you scamp? EGÓRUSHKA. Oh, I shall die of laughing! Oh, granny, I've got such giggles! ARÍNA. Dress up yourself. EGÓRUSHKA. I will, I will! Oh, Lord! Oh, Oh, Oh. ARÍNA. Now you run along quickly and fetch the girls. EGÓRUSHKA. In a second! [_Goes out._ PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA _comes in._ SCENE IV ARÍNA _and_ PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. Arinushka, did you send for the girls? ARÍNA. I did, my dear. PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. That's right. Let them have a song with our folks, and cheer up Lyubóv and the guests. This is the time for them to enjoy themselves--while they're young. You know what a girl's life is--behind bolts and bars, never seeing the world! Now's their holiday!--Yes, let 'em have a good time! ARÍNA. Yes, to be sure, to be sure! Why shouldn't they? PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. Bring in some Madeira, Arinushka, the oldest we have; and gingerbread for the young people, and sweets--whatever you choose! Attend to it yourself, but don't forget the Madeira. ARÍNA. I understand, I understand; there'll be enough of everything. Directly, my dear, directly! PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. And a snack for the young men. ARÍNA. Everything, everything will be all right. Don't you worry yourself; you join the guests. I'll do everything with pleasure. [_Goes out._ PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. [_Going to the door_] Girls, boys, come here! There's more room here and it's lighter. _Enter_ LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA, MÁSHA, LÍZA, ANNA IVÁNOVNA, RAZLYULYÁYEV, MÍTYA, GÚSLIN, _and two_ GUESTS. SCENE V PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA, LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA, MÁSHA, LÍZA, ANNA IVÁNOVNA, RAZLYULYÁYEV, MÍTYA, GÚSLIN, _and two_ GUESTS _(old women)._ PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. [_To the old women_] We'll sit here. [_Seats herself on the sofa, with the old women near her;_ ANNA IVÁNOVNA _and_ GÚSLIN _take chairs and talk quietly;_ MÍTYA _stands near them;_ MÁSHA, LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA, _and_ LÍZA _walk about the room with their arms round each other;_ RAZLYULYÁYEV _follows them_] We'll watch them while they play.