MATRYONA (to ANISYA). He's going; it seems he means to bury it. Nikita, you'd better take the lantern! NIKITA (does not heed her, but listens by the cellar door). I can hear nothing! I suppose it was fancy! (Moves away, then stops.) How the little bones crunched under me. Krr ... kr.... What have they made me do? (Listens again.) Again whimpering! It's really whimpering! What can it be? Mother! Mother, I say! [Goes up to her. MATRYONA. What is it, sonny? NIKITA. Mother, my own mother, I can't do any more! Can't do any more! My own mother, have some pity on me! MATRYONA. Oh dear, how frightened you are, my darling! Come, come, drink a drop to give you courage! NIKITA. Mother, mother! It seems my time has come! What have you done with me? How the little bones crunched, and how it whimpered! My own mother! What have you done with me? [Steps aside and sits down on the sledge. MATRYONA. Come, my own, have a drink! It certainly does seem uncanny at night-time. But wait a bit. When the day breaks, you know, and one day and another passes, you'll forget even to think of it. Wait a bit; when the girl's married we'll even forget to think of it. But you go and have a drink; have a drink! I'll go and put things straight in the cellar myself. NIKITA (rouses himself). Is there any drink left? Perhaps I can drink it off! [Exit. [ANISYA, who has stood all the time by the door, silently makes way for him. MATRYONA. Go, go, honey, and I'll set to work! I'll go down myself and dig! Where has he thrown the spade to? (Finds the spade, and goes down into the cellar.) Anisya, come here! Hold the light, will you? ANISYA. And what of him? MATRYONA. He's so frightened! You've been too hard with him. Leave him alone, he'll come to his senses. God help him! I'll set to work myself. Put the lantern down here. I can see. [MATRYONA disappears into the cellar. ANISYA. (looking towards the door by which Nikita entered the hut). Well, have you had enough spree? You've been puffing yourself up, but now you'll know how it feels! You'll lose some of your bluster! NIKITA (rushes out of the hut towards the cellar). Mother! Mother, I say! MATRYONA (puts out her head). What is it, sonny? NIKITA (listening) Don't bury it, it's alive? Don't you hear? Alive! There--it's whimpering! There ... quite plain! MATRYONA. How can it whimper? Why, you've flattened it into a pancake! The whole head is smashed to bits! NIKITA. What is it then? (Stops his ears.) It's still whimpering! I am lost! Lost! What have they done with me?... Where shall I go? [Sits down on the step. CURTAIN * * * * * VARIATION Instead of the end of Act IV. (from the words, "ANISYA. I'll find one. I know how to do it. [Exit]") the following variation may be read, and is the one usually acted. * * * * * SCENE II The interior of the hut as in Act I.