Second Girl. Evidently before this day.
First Girl. Look! He evidently came to fetch some straw. The rope is still in his hands, just as he fell asleep with it.
Second Girl (listening). They are still receiving. Evidently they have not pronounced the blessing yet. They say Akulína did not even howl.
First Girl. Mamma said that she was marrying against her will. Her stepfather threatened her, or else she would never have married. They have been saying some dreadful things about her!
Scene II. The same and Marína (catching up with the girls).
Marína. Good day, girls!
The Girls. Good day, aunty!
Marína. Are you going to the wedding, my dear ones?
First Girl. That is over. We just came to take a look.
Marína. Call my old man, Semén of Zúev. You know him, perhaps?
First Girl. Why not? I think he is the bride-groom's relative.
Marína. Yes. The bridegroom is my husband's nephew.
Second Girl. Why don't you go there yourself? You have come to the wedding, then why don't you go?
Marína. I don't feel like it, girl, and I have no time. We must leave. We did not start out for the wedding. We were going to town with oats. We stopped to feed the horses, and they called in my old man.
First Girl. Where did you stop? At Fédorych's?
Marína. Yes. So I will wait here, while you, dear one, call my old man. Call him, my dear! Say: "Your wife, Marína, tells you to start. Your companions are hitching up the horses!"
