MÁSHA. This doesn't concern us.
LÍZA. We don't trade in flour.
ANNA IVÁNOVNA. What are you interrupting for! Just guess this riddle.
What's this: round—but not a girl; with a tail—but not a mouse?[1]
[Footnote 1: A turnip.]
RAZLYULYÁYEV. That's a hard one!
ANNA IVÁNOVNA. Indeed it is!—You just think it over! Now, girls, come along! [The girls rise and get ready to go] Come along, boys!
GÚSLIN and RAZLYULYÁYEV get ready.
MÍTYA. But I'll come later. I'll put things to rights here first.
ANNA IVÁNOVNA. [Sings while they are getting ready]
"Our maids last night,
Our pretties last night,
They brewed us a brew of the beer last night.
And there came to our maids,
And there came to our pretties
A guest, a guest whom they didn't invite."