Chapter 8

The same and the OLD LADY.

OLD LADY. Hey, my pretty charmers? What are you doing here? Waiting for young fellows, waiting for your beaus? Are your hearts merry? Merry are they? Are you pleased and proud of your beauty? That's where beauty leads to. (_Points to the Volga_) Yes, yes, to the bottomless pit! (_Varvara smiles._) What, laughing? Let not your heart rejoice! (_Knocks with her stick_) You will burn all of you in a fire unquenchable. You will boil in the lake of flaming pitch. (_Going_) That is whither beauty leads you!

[_Goes._