Anyútka. She asked me whether they wanted to marry you to Akulína.
Akulína (walks up to Nikita, back of her spinning-wheel). Who is to marry Akulína?
Anyútka. Nikíta.
Akulína. I declare! Who says so?
Nikíta. Evidently people say so. (Looks at her and laughs.) Akulína, will you marry me?
Akulína. You? Sometime ago I might have married you perhaps, but now I won't.
Nikíta. Why not now?
Akulína. Because you will not love me.
Nikíta. Why not?
Akulína. Because you are told not to. (Laughs.)
Nikíta. Who tells me not to?
Akulína. My stepmother. She is scolding all the time, and all the time watching you.
Nikíta (laughing). I declare! But you are shrewd.
Akulína. Who, I? Why shrewd? Am I blind? She gave father a terrible tongue-lashing to-day, that big-snouted witch. (Exit to the storeroom.)
Anyútka. Nikíta! Look there. (Looks through the window.) She is coming. Truly, she is. I am going away. (Exit.)
Scene XIX. Nikíta, Akulína (in the storeroom), and Marína.
Marína (enter). What are you doing with me?
Nikíta. What am I doing? Nothing.
Marína. You want to abandon me.
Nikíta (getting up, angrily). What good is there in your coming?
Marína. Ah, Nikíta!
Nikíta. Really, you are all queer— What did you come for?
