MATRYONA. How the woman bristled up! But one must allow she's been put upon. Well, but with the Lord's help, when we've covered this business, there'll be an end of it. We'll shove the girl off without any trouble. My son will live in comfort. The house, thank God, is as full as an egg. They'll not forget me either. Where would they have been without Matryona? They'd not have known how to contrive things. (Peering into the cellar.) Is it ready, sonny? Nikita (puts out his head). What are you about there? Bring it quick! What are you dawdling for? If it is to be done, let it be done. MATRYONA (goes towards door of the hut and meets ANISYA. ANISYA comes out with a baby wrapped in rags). Well, have you baptized it? ANISYA. Why, of course. It was all I could do to take it away--she wouldn't give it up! [Comes forward and hands it to NIKITA. NIKITA (does not take it). You bring it yourself! ANISYA. Take it, I tell you! [Throws the baby to him. NIKITA (catches it). It's alive! Gracious me, it's moving! It's alive! What am I to.... ANISYA (snatches the baby from him and throws it into the cellar). Be quick and smother it, and then it won't be alive! (Pushes NIKITA down.) It's your doing, and you must finish it. MATRYONA (sits on the doorstep of the hut). He's tender-hearted. It's hard on him, poor dear. Well, what of that? Isn't it also his sin? [ANISYA stands by the cellar. MATRYONA (sits looking at her and discourses). Oh, oh, oh! How frightened he was: well, but what of that? If it is hard, it's the only thing to be done. Where was one to put it? And just think, how often it happens that people pray to God to have children! But no, God gives them none; or they are all still-born. Look at our priest's wife now.... And here, where it's not wanted, here it lives. (Looks towards the cellar.) I suppose he's finished. (To ANISYA.) Well? ANISYA (looking into the cellar). He's put a board on it and is sitting on it. It must be finished! MATRYONA. Oh, oh! One would be glad not to sin, but what's one to do? [Re-enter NIKITA from cellar, trembling all over. NIKITA. It's still alive! I can't! It's alive! ANISYA. If it's alive, where are you off to? [Tries to stop him. NIKITA (rushes at her). Go away! I'll kill you! (Catches hold of her arms; she escapes, he runs after her with the spade. MATRYONA runs towards him and stops him. ANISYA runs into the porch. MATRYONA tries to wrench the spade from him. To his mother.) I'll kill you! I'll kill you! Go away! (MATRYONA runs to ANISYA in the porch. NIKITA stops.) I'll kill you! I'll kill you all! MATRYONA. That's because he's so frightened! Never mind, it will pass! NIKITA. What have they made me do? What have they made me do? How it whimpered.... How it crunched under me! What have they done with me?... And it's really alive, still alive! (Listens in silence.) It's whimpering... There, it's whimpering. [Runs to the cellar.