NIKÍTA. Go away from me! What have you done with me?
MATRYÓNA. Come, come, sonnie! Now really, what's the matter with you? [Takes his hand].
NIKÍTA. Go away from me! I'll kill you! It's all one to me now! I'll kill you!
MATRYÓNA. Oh, oh, how frightened he's got! You should go and have a sleep now!
NIKÍTA. I have nowhere to go; I'm lost!
MATRYÓNA [shaking her head] Oh, oh, I'd better go and tidy things up. He'll sit and rest a bit, and it will pass! [Exit].
Nikíta sits with his face in his hands. Mítritch and Nan seem stunned.
NIKÍTA. It's whining! It's whining! It is really—there, there, quite plain! She'll bury it, really she will! [Runs to the door] Mother, don't bury it, it's alive.…
Enter Matryóna.
MATRYÓNA [whispers] Now then, what is it? Heaven help you! Why won't you get to rest? How can it be alive? All its bones are crushed!