NIKÍTA. Now stop! Oh what people! You'd better be quick.... As well be hung for a sheep as a lamb! [Goes towards the cellar]. MATRYÓNA. Yes, that's just it, honey. If you know how to amuse yourself, you must know how to hide the consequences. ANÍSYA [still excited] He's trampled on me ... he and his slut! But it's enough! I'm not going to be the only one! Let him also be a murderer! Then he'll know how it feels! MATRYÓNA. There, there! How she flares up! Don't you be cross, lass, but do things quietly little by little, as it's best. You go to the girl, and he'll do the work. [Follows Nikíta to the cellar with a lantern. He descends into the cellar]. ANÍSYA. And I'll make him strangle his dirty brat! [Still excited] I've worried myself to death all alone, with Peter's bones weighing on my mind! Let him feel it too! I'll not spare myself; I've said I'll not spare myself! NIKÍTA [from the cellar] Show a light! MATRYÓNA [holds up the lantern to him. To Anísya] He's digging. Go and bring it. ANÍSYA. You stay with him, or he'll go away, the wretch! And I'll go and bring it. MATRYÓNA. Mind, don't forget to baptize it, or I will if you like. Have you a cross? ANÍSYA. I'll find one. I know how to do it. [Exit]. See at end of Act, Variation, which may be used instead of the following. MATRYÓNA. 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 Matryóna? They'd not have known how to contrive things. [Peering into the cellar] Is it ready, sonnie? NIKÍTA [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. MATRYÓNA [goes towards door of the hut and meets Anísya. Anísya comes out with a baby wrapped in rags] Well, have you baptized it? ANÍSYA. 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 Nikíta]. NIKÍTA [does not take it] You bring it yourself! ANÍSYA. Take it, I tell you! [Throws the baby to him]. NIKÍTA [catches it] It's alive! Gracious me, it's moving! It's alive! What am I to ... ANÍSYA [snatches the baby from him and throws it into the cellar] Be quick and smother it, and then it won't be alive! [Pushes Nikíta down] It's your doing, and you must finish it. MATRYÓNA [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? Anísya stands by the cellar.