Matréna. The cuckoo of the night has cuckooed better than the cuckoo of the day. He did not listen to me, but he obeys his wife. (Matréna and Anísya walk away.)
Matréna. Are you coming?
Nikíta. I will be there right away. You go, and I will follow you. I will come to bless them— (The women stop.) Go, and I will follow you. Go, I say! (The women exeunt.)
Nikíta (looking in their direction, in thought).
Scene X. Nikíta (alone), then Mítrich.
Nikíta (sits down and takes off his coat). Wait until I come! You look for me on the beam! I will straighten the noose and jump from the beam, and then you may look for me. The reins are here, that is good. (In thought.) If it were any kind of a sorrow, it would pass in time; but this is in the heart, and it cannot be taken out. (Looking at the yard.) She is coming again, I think. (Mocking Anísya.) Oh, how nice it is! I will lie down with you!" Oh, you contemptible witch! Embrace me when they take me off from the beam. There will be an end of it. (Takes the rope and pulls it.)
Mítrich (drunk. Pulls the rope back and gets up). I won't let you. I won't let anybody. I will bring it myself. I told you: I will bring the straw myself. Nikíta, is it you? (Laughing.) Oh, the devil! Did you come for the straw?
Nikíta. Let me have the rope!
Mítrich. No, wait! The peasants sent me for it. I will bring it. (Rises to his feet and begins to scrape up some straw; but he totters, and finally falls down.) The liquor is stronger: it has me down.
Nikíta. Let me have the reins!
Mítrich. I told you I wouldn't. Nikíta, you are a stupid! (Laughing.) I love you, but you are a stupid.
