Marie [clapping her hands]. It must have been the Babushka!
Sascha. Of course it was!
Kolinka and Matrena. How wonderful!
Nicolas and Pavlo. Babushka! Babushka!
Prince [puzzled]. The Babushka?
Princess. Who is she?
Sascha. What! you, Russian children, and don't know that!
Kolinka [aside]. Hush, Sascha, don't be rude. You forget they have been away ever since they were babies, almost. [To Prince.] We can tell you all about the Babushka, Prince. Sit down, and Marie will tell you the story. Marie knows it best. [Kolinka, Sascha, and Marie draw benches forward and all sit down, Marie in the center, the rest not too close to her. Prince and Princess on bench to R., Matrena on end of Marie's bench. Sascha stands near Matrena. Kolinka behind the group, knitting. Nicolas and Pavlo watch gravely.]
Nicolas. There aren't any bears or wolves coming, Pavlo?
Pavlo. No. And Marie's going to tell a story.