MÍTRITCH. Well, of course! What a little silly you are, now I come to look at you! Must needs know everything. [Tucks her up again, then stands up to go] There now, lie still and sleep! [Goes up to the oven]. NAN. It gave just one cry, and now there's nothing to be heard. MÍTRITCH. Oh Lord! Gracious Nicholas! What is it you can't hear? NAN. The baby. MÍTRITCH. There is none, that's why you can't hear it. NAN. But I heard it! Blest if I didn't hear it! Such a thin voice! MÍTRITCH. Heard indeed! Much you heard! Well, if you know,--why then it was just such a little girl as you that the bogey popped into his bag and made off with. NAN. What bogey? MÍTRITCH. Why, just his very self! [Climbs up on to the oven] The oven is beautifully warm to-night. Quite a treat! Oh Lord! Gracious Nicholas! NAN. Daddy! are you going to sleep? MÍTRITCH. What else? Do you think I'm going to sing songs? Silence. NAN. Daddy! Daddy, I say! They are digging! they're digging--don't you hear? Blest if they're not, they're digging! MÍTRITCH. What are you dreaming about? Digging! Digging in the night! Who's digging? The cow's rubbing herself, that's all. Digging indeed! Go to sleep I tell you, else I'll just put out the light! NAN. Daddy darling, don't put it out! I won't ... truly, truly, I won't. It's so frightful! MÍTRITCH. Frightful? Don't be afraid and then it won't be frightful. Look at her, she's afraid, and then says it's frightful. How can it help being frightful if you are afraid? Eh, what a stupid little girl! Silence. The cricket chirps. NAN [whispers] Daddy! I say, daddy! Are you asleep? MÍTRITCH. Now then, what d'you want? NAN. What's the bogey like? MÍTRITCH. Why, like this! When he finds such a one as you, who won't sleep, he comes with a sack and pops the girl into it, then in he gets himself, head and all, lifts her dress, and gives her a fine whipping! NAN. What with? MÍTRITCH. He takes a birch-broom with him. NAN. But he can't see there--inside the sack! MÍTRITCH. He'll see, no fear! NAN. But I'll bite him. MÍTRITCH. No, friend, him you can't bite! NAN. Daddy, there's some one coming! Who is it? Oh gracious goodness! Who can it be? MÍTRITCH. Well, if some one's coming, let them come! What's the matter with you? I suppose it's your mother! Enter Anísya. ANÍSYA. Nan! [Nan pretends to be asleep] Mítritch! MÍTRITCH. What? ANÍSYA. What's the lamp burning for? We are going to sleep in the summer-hut. MÍTRITCH. Why, you see I've only just got straight. I'll put the light out all right. ANÍSYA [rummages in her box and grumbles] When a thing's wanted one never can find it! MÍTRITCH. Why, what is it you are looking for? ANÍSYA. I'm looking for a cross. Suppose it were to die unbaptized! It would be a sin, you know! MÍTRITCH. Of course it would! Everything in due order.... Have you found it? ANÍSYA. Yes, I've found it. [Exit]. MÍTRITCH. That's right, else I'd have lent her mine. Oh Lord!