Prince. Will you? That's nice.
Marie. We sing all the songs we know on winter nights. And while we sing we work. See, Princess, this is our winter work.
[Prince and Princess go to table and look
over wooden articles and baskets, with
Marie and Matrena. Kolinka stands
by window.
Nicolas [to Pavlo]. I'm glad I wasn't big enough to go wolf-hunting, aren't you, Pavlo, because now we've seen the Prince and the Princess.
Pavlo. And Sascha said they wouldn't come here—but they did. Let's go up on the stove again, Nicolas. [They climb upon the stove.]
Kolinka. There they come. [Opens door. Enter Sascha, Semyon, and Ivan.] Did you tell Semyon, Sascha?
Sascha. Yes, and he says we must wait.
Semyon. Good-evening to you all.
Children. Good-evening.
Semyon [bowing]. It's a poor, cold welcome home we give to our Prince and Princess, but we are glad to see them among us again.