Chapter 43

_The same and mummers; an_ OLD MAN _with a balalaika or guitar, a_ TRAINER _with a bear and goat_, EGÓRUSHKA _with molasses_.

OLD MAN. [_Bowing_] To all this honest company, greeting!

TRAINER. Make a bow, Mishka! [_The bear bows_.

OLD MAN. Do you wish me to sing and dance and amuse you, and to limber up my old bones?

PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. That's all right; yes, dance! Give them some wine, Arinushka.

ARÍNA _serves the wine; some of them drink_.

OLD MAN. Thank you humbly for your kind words, and for the entertainment. [_Sings_.

"Our lads, though stripped unto the buff, Even so are bold enough. Their twelve hands go weaving on; Now the web of cloth is done. They made kaftans for us here; Kaftans do not cost you dear When you've grist within your hopper. In our purses silver bright Will not let us sleep at night. And the jingling coins of copper For the tavern raise the call. Tapster Andrew, quick undo The inn-door. We've a kaftan new Here to put in pawn with you; We won't take it home at all."

[_Goes to one side_.

EGÓRUSHKA. [_Dances with the molasses_]

"Molasses! Molasses! It simmers so sweet. Oh, winter is bitter, The frost and the sleet. Stormy and snowy, oh, ways choked with snow, Unto my darling there's no way to go.

Molasses! Molasses! It simmers so sweet. Like a little quail my wife Sits on her seat. And I love her for this, and her praises I tell, For she jaunts on so prettily, proudly and well."

[_Bows_.

FIRST GUEST. Oh, what a fine boy! Ah!

PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. Why, yes, my friend, he's still a child; but he does the best he can. He's young yet. Come here, Egórushka. [EGÓRUSHKA _comes_] Here's some gingerbread for you. [_Gives it to him_; EGÓRUSHKA _bows and goes out_] Yes, he's still a child; you can't expect much from him!

_The_ TRAINEE _leads the bear; the goat dances_.

OLD MAN. [_Sings_]

"We had a little billy-goat, And he was clever, too; He carried in the water, And set the mush to brew.

He fed Grandpa and Grandma; But when he went one day To the dark forest seven wolves In waiting for him lay.

And one of them was hungry, And many and many a year Had he roamed, forever asking For goat's meat far and near."

TRAINER. [_To the bear_] Ask for wine, in honor of the goat. [_Bear bows_.

PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. Arinushka, bring some refreshments for the mummers.

ARÍNA _brings them something to drink; they drink and bow_.

TRAINER. Now, then, amuse the honorable company. Show how the fair young darlings, the fair young girls, pale and rosy ones, glance at the young men, and watch their suitors. [_Bear shows off_] And how the old woman goes to work, bending, shrivelled; old age has overcome her, the years have broken her down. [_Bear shows off_] Well, now bow to the honorable company.[1]

[Footnote 1: Ostróvsky is of course reproducing actual Christmas customs. Count Ilya Tolstoy, in his _Reminiscences of Tolstoy_, tells how his father played the part of the bear at the family Christmas party.]

_They go out; the_ OLD MAN _plays the guitar; the other mummers dance; all watch them_. GÚSLIN _and_ MÍTYA _stand near_ LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA; MÍTYA _whispers something to her, and kisses her_. RAZLYULYÁYEV _comes up_.

RAZLYULYÁYEV. What are you doing?

MÍTYA. What's that to you?

RAZLYULYÁYEV. I'll tell Pelagéya Egórovna; just see if I don't!

MÍTYA. You just dare to tell!

GÚSLIN. [_Approaching him_] Look out for me! You see we'll go away from here together; it'll be dark and the alley is lonely--just remember that!

RAZLYULYÁYEV. What are you meddling with me for? What's the use? I want to marry her, and I'm going to make proposals. What are you up to! Yes, I mean to marry her!

MÍTYA. We'll see about that.

RAZLYULYÁYEV. Do you think they'll marry her to you? Not much! Not if I know it--I've got lots of money!

ARÍNA. What a racket! Stop! Some one seems to be knocking. [_All listen_] That's true! They are knocking.

PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. Go and open the door.

ARÍNA. [_Goes out, then returns_] He's come back himself! _All rise._