VARVARA. Well, have you made friends? (Katerina hides her face on Boris's breast).

BORIS. Yes.

VARVARA. You might go and walk about a bit and let us rest. When it's time to go in, Vania will shout. (Boris and Katerina go away, Kudriash and Varvara sit down on the stone.)

KUDRIASH. This is a first-rate plan, getting out at the garden gate. It's fine and convenient for us.

VARVARA. It's all my doing.

KUDRIASH. There's no one like you for such things. But what if your mother catches you?

VARVARA. Oh! How could she? It would never enter her head!

KUDRIASH. But if by ill luck, it were to?

VARVARA. Her first sleep is sound; in the early morning now, there is more chance of her being awake.

KUDRIASH. But there's never any knowing! Some evil spirit might rouse her up.

VARVARA. Well, even then! Our gate into the yard is locked on the inside, the garden side; she would knock and knock and then go away. And in the morning we'd declare we'd been sound asleep and heard nothing. Besides, Glasha's on the lookout; the faintest sound, she'd let us know in a minute. One can't do anything without some risk! No, indeed! the only thing is to mind what one's about and not get into a scrape. (Kudriash strikes a few cords on the guitar. Varvara leans on the shoulder of Kudriash who plays softly, paying no attention to her. Varvara yawning) How could we find out what time it is?

KUDRIASH. It's one o'clock.

VARVARA. How do you know?

KUDRIASH. A watchman struck one blow on his board just now.

VARVARA (yawning). It's late. Shout to them! We'll get out earlier tomorrow, so as to have longer.

KUDRIASH (gives a whistle and then sings loudly)

They're all going home! They're all going home! But I won't go home!

BORIS (behind the scenes). I hear!

VARVARA (gets up). Well, good-bye! (yawns, then gives a cool kiss to Kudriash, as if he were an old and very intimate friend). To-morrow mind you come earlier! (Looks in the direction in which Boris and Katerina went away) You've said good-bye enough, you're not parting for ever, you'll see each other to-morrow (yawns and stretches, Katerina hurries in, followed by Boris).