PETER. And the women will also have some tea. Come. And you, Nikita, go and drive the sheep in and clear away the straw. NIKITA. All right. (Exeunt all but NIKITA. NIKITA lights a cigarette. It grows darker.) Just see how they bother one. Want a fellow to tell 'em how he larks about with the wenches! It would take long to tell 'em all those stories--"Marry her," he says. Marry them all! One would have a good lot of wives! And what need have I to marry? Am as good as married now! There's many a chap as envies me. Yet how strange it felt when I crossed myself before the icon. It was just as if some one shoved me. The whole web fell to pieces at once. They say it's frightening to swear what's not true. That's all humbug. It's all talk, that is. It's simple enough. AKOULINA (enters with a rope, which she puts down. She takes off her outdoor things and goes into closet). You might at least have got a light. NIKITA. What, to look at you? I can see you well enough without. AKOULINA. Oh, bother you! [NAN enters and whispers to NIKITA. NAN. Nikita, there's a person wants you. There is! NIKITA. What person? NAN. Marina from the railway; she's out there, round the corner. NIKITA. Nonsense! NAN. Blest if she isn't! Nikita. What does she want? NAN. She wants you to come out. She says, "I only want to say a word to Nikita." I began asking, but she won't tell, but only says, "Is it true he's leaving you?" And I say, "No, only his father wanted to take him away and get him to marry, but he won't, and is going to stay with us another year." And she says, "For goodness' sake send him out to me. I must see him," she says, "I must say a word to him somehow." She's been waiting a long time. Why don't you go? NIKITA. Bother her! What should I go for? NAN. She says, "If he don't come, I'll go into the hut to him." Blest if she didn't say she'd come in! NIKITA. Not likely. She'll wait a bit and then go away. NAN. "Or is it," she says, "that they want him to marry Akoulina?" [Re-enter AKOULINA, passing near NIKITA to take her distaff. AKOULINA. Marry whom to Akoulina? NAN. Why, Nikita. Akoulina. A likely thing! Who says it? NIKITA (looks at her and laughs). It seems people do say it. Would you marry me, Akoulina? AKOULINA. Who, you? Perhaps I might have afore, but I won't now. NIKITA. And why not now? Akoulina. 'Cos you wouldn't love me. NIKITA. Why not? Akoulina. 'Cos you'd be forbidden to. [Laughs. NIKITA. Who'd forbid it? AKOULINA. Who? My step-mother. She does nothing but grumble, and is always staring at you. NIKITA (laughing). Just hear her! Ain't she cute? AKOULINA. Who? Me? What's there to be cute about? Am I blind? She's been rowing and rowing at dad all day. The fat-muzzled witch! [Goes into closet. NAN (looking out of the window). Look, Nikita, she's coming! I'm blest if she isn't! I'll go away. [Exit. MARINA (enters). What are you doing with me? NIKITA. Doing? I'm not doing anything.