Adr. What is wrong, Petrovich?
Vet. The lady is a good lady. Yes. But why does she want to take Vera from the old man? She has stolen the child's heart. And to-morrow she is going to send a carriage——
[Distant cries are heard from without]
Adr. What is that? It sounds like—Petoff yesterday. [Uliana hurries in, street door] What is it, Uliana?
Uliana [Crossing herself toward icon as she enters] O, sir, the soldiers have come!
Adr. The soldiers? Well, they are only passing through the village.
Uli. They have stopped, sir! And they are Cossacks.
Adr. Do not be alarmed. They— [Enter two peasants] Simeon? Gregori?
Simeon. What do they want—the soldiers?