You make a boast of loving your husband so much; I see now how much your love's worth. Any other good wife, on seeing her husband off, would wail for a good hour and a half, lying on the steps; but one can see you're not much upset.

KATERINA. There's no reason to be! Besides, I don't know how to wail. Why make the people laugh!

MME. KABANOVA. No great art is needed. If you loved him you would have learnt to do it. If you can't wail properly, you should wail a little, if only for example. It is always more decorous; or else one sees it is all words with you. Well, I'm going to pray to God; do not interrupt me.

VARVARA. I'm going out.

MME. KABANOVA (caressingly). I've nothing against it! Go and enjoy yourself till your time comes. You'll have sitting indoors enough later on! [Exeunt Mme. Kabanova and Varvara.