VARVARA (at the gate, sings). "Beyond the river, the swift river, My Vania's walking, dear Vania's walking" ...

KUDRIASH (going on with the song). "Going to the fair." (Whistles.)

VARVARA (comes down the path and, hiding her face in her kerchief, goes up to Boris). You wait a bit, lad. You've something to wait for. (To Kudriash) Let's go to the Volga.

KUDRIASH. Why have you been so long? Kept me waiting again! You know I don't like it! (Varvara puts one arm round him and they walk away.)

BORIS. It's like a dream! This night, and singing and trysts! They're walking, their arms round each other. It is so new for me, so sweet! Here I am waiting for something. And what I am waiting for—I know not and cannot picture to myself; only my heart is throbbing and every nerve is quivering. I cannot think even what to say to her, I can hardly breathe, my knees are shaking! My stupid heart is in my mouth, I can't quiet it. Here she comes. (Katerina slowly comes down the path, wrapt in a large white kerchief, her eyes fixed on the ground. Silence.) Is it you? Katerina Petrovna? (Silence.) How can I ever thank you,—I don't know. (Silence.) If you only knew, Katerina Petrovna, how I love you!

[Tries to take her hand.

KATERINA (with terror, but not raising her eyes). Do not touch me, do not touch me! Alas, alas!

BORIS. Do not be angry!

KATERINA. Go away from me, go away, unhappy man! Do you know that never by any prayer can I be free of this sin, never again! Like a stone it will lie on my soul, like a stone.

BORIS. Do not send me away!

KATERINA. Why did you come? Why did you come for my undoing? I am a wife, you know, I must live with my husband, till I lie in the grave....

BORIS. You told me yourself to come ...

KATERINA. Till the grave; do you understand?

BORIS. Better if I had never seen you.

KATERINA (with great emotion). You see what I am preparing for myself? What is the only place left for me?

BORIS. Calm yourself. (Takes her hand) Sit down!

KATERINA. Why do you wish for my ruin?

BORIS. How can I wish to injure you, when I love you more than anything in the world, more than myself?

KATERINA. No, no! You have been the undoing of me.

BORIS. Am I such a wicked wretch?

KATERINA (shaking her head). I am lost, lost, lost!

BORIS. God forbid! I'd rather perish myself!

KATERINA. Have I not forsaken my home, and come out to you in the night?

BORIS. You came of your own free will.

KATERINA. I have no will. If I had had any will left of my own, I would not have come to you. (Lifts her eyes and looks at Boris. A short silence.) Your will is upon me now, don't you see that? [Sinks on his neck.

BORIS (puts his arms about Katerina). My life!

KATERINA. Ah, if death would come quickly now!

BORIS. Why die when life is so sweet for us?

KATERINA. No, life is not for me! I know it is not for me!

BORIS. Don't say such things, please, don't torture me.

KATERINA. Yes, you are happy, you are free as the air, but I! ...

BORIS. No one shall know of our love. Do you think I have no feeling for you?

KATERINA. Ah! Why feel for me, it's no one's fault. I have come to this of myself. Don't think of me! Anyone may know, anyone may see what I do! (Takes Boris in her arms.) Since I have not feared to do wrong for you, am I likely to fear the judgment of men? They do say, it will be better for one, if one has to suffer here on earth for any sin.

BORIS. Come, why think of that, when we are happy now!

KATERINA. Why, truly! I shall have long years to weep enough hereafter.

BORIS. And I was so frightened, I thought you would send me away.

KATERINA (smiling). Send you away! How could I? Not with my heart. If you had not come, think I should have gone to you myself.

BORIS. I never even guessed you loved me.

KATERINA. I have loved you for so long. It's as though, for my sins, you came here to torment me. Directly I saw you I ceased to belong to myself. From the first moment, I believe, if you had beckoned to me, I would have followed you; to the ends of the earth I would have followed you, and never looked back.

BORIS. Has your husband gone away for long?

KATERINA. For a fortnight.

BORIS. O, then we will be happy! that is a long time.

KATERINA. We will be happy. And then ... (sinks into dreamy musing). If they lock me up, that will be my death! And if they don't lock me up, I will find some way to see you again! [Enter Kudriash and Varvara.