[Comes forward and hands it to NIKÍTA.
Nikíta (does not take it). You bring it yourself!
Anísya. Take it, I tell you!
[Throws the baby to him.
Nikíta (catches it). It's alive! Gracious me, it's moving! It's alive! What am I to....
Anísya (snatches the baby from him and throws it into the cellar). Be quick and smother it, and then it won't be alive! (Pushes NIKÍTA down.) It's your doing, and you must finish it.
Matryóna (sits on the doorstep of the hut). He's tender-hearted. It's hard on him, poor dear. Well, what of that? Isn't it also his sin?
[ANÍSYA stands by the cellar.
Matryóna (sits looking at her and discourses). Oh, oh, oh! How frightened he was: well, but what of that? If it is hard, it's the only thing to be done. Where was one to put it? And just think, how often it happens that people pray to God to have children! But no, God gives them none; or they are all still-born. Look at our priest's wife now.... And here, where it's not wanted, here it lives. (Looks towards the cellar.) I suppose he's finished. (To ANÍSYA.) Well?
Anísya (looking into the cellar). He's put a board on it and is sitting on it. It must be finished!