SCENE III
ARÍNA, LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA, and afterwards EGÓRUSHKA
ARÍNA. Well, you! You frightened me enough! What are you doing here? Your mother is looking for you there, and here you are! Why are you wandering about in the dark! Oh, you modest maiden! Fairy princess. [LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA goes out] Well, really, wasn't some one there with her? [Looks into the corner] But I'm a silly old woman, I suspected some one! [Lights the candles] Oh, deary me, some trouble will be sure to come in my old age. [EGÓRUSHKA enters] Go along, Egórushka, and call the girls in from the neighbors; tell them Pelagéya Egórovna told you to invite them to come and sing songs.
EGÓRUSHKA. Oh! how are you, Arína, my dear?
ARÍNA. What are you so happy about, silly?
EGÓRUSHKA. Why shouldn't I be happy? It's such fun! Ha, ha, ha! [Jumps about.
ARÍNA. And maybe the mummers are coming; the young people wanted to dress up.
EGÓRUSHKA. Oh, I shall die! Oh, Lord, I shall die!
ARÍNA. What's the matter with you, you scamp?
EGÓRUSHKA. Oh, I shall die of laughing! Oh, granny, I've got such giggles!
ARÍNA. Dress up yourself.
EGÓRUSHKA. I will, I will! Oh, Lord! Oh, Oh, Oh.
ARÍNA. Now you run along quickly and fetch the girls.
EGÓRUSHKA. In a second! [Goes out.
PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA comes in.