Matryóna. Oh, oh! One would be glad not to sin, but what's one to do?
[Re-enter NIKÍTA from cellar, trembling all over.
Nikíta. It's still alive! I can't! It's alive!
Anísya. If it's alive, where are you off to?
[Tries to stop him.
Nikíta (rushes at her). Go away! I'll kill you! (Catches hold of her arms; she escapes, he runs after her with the spade. MATRYÓNA runs towards him and stops him. ANÍSYA runs into the porch. MATRYÓNA tries to wrench the spade from him. To his mother.) I'll kill you! I'll kill you! Go away! (MATRYÓNA runs to ANÍSYA in the porch. NIKÍTA stops.) I'll kill you! I'll kill you all!
Matryóna. That's because he's so frightened! Never mind, it will pass!
Nikíta. What have they made me do? What have they made me do? How it whimpered.... How it crunched under me! What have they done with me?... And it's really alive, still alive! (Listens in silence.) It's whimpering... There, it's whimpering.
[Runs to the cellar.
Matryóna (to ANÍSYA). He's going; it seems he means to bury it. Nikíta, you'd better take the lantern!