The Power of Darkness

Anísya and Nan. Mítritch Comes in at the gate and begins collecting the scattered hay. Oh Lord! Merciful Nicholas! What a lot of liquor they’ve been and swilled, and the smell they’ve made! It smells even out here! But no, I don’t want any, drat it! See how they’ve scattered the hay about. They don’t eat it, but only trample it under foot. A truss gone before you know it. Oh, that smell, it seems to be just under my nose! Drat it! Yawns. It’s time to go to sleep! But I don’t care to go into the hut. It seems to float just round my nose! It has a strong scent, the damned stuff! The guests are heard driving off. They’re off at last. Oh Lord! Merciful Nicholas! There they go, binding themselves and gulling one another. And it’s all gammon! Enter Nikíta. Nikíta Mítritch, you get off to sleep and I’ll put this straight. Mítritch All right, you throw it to the sheep. Well, have you seen ’em all off? Nikíta Yes, they’re off! But things are not right! I don’t know what to do! Mítritch It’s a fine mess. But there’s the Foundlings’6 for that sort of thing. Whoever likes may drop one there; they’ll take ’em all. Give ’em as many as you like, they ask no questions, and even pay⁠—if the mother goes in as a wet-nurse. It’s easy enough nowadays. Nikíta But mind, Mítritch, don’t go blabbing. Mítritch It’s no concern of mine. Cover the tracks as you think best. Dear me, how you smell of liquor! I’ll go in. Oh Lord! Exit, yawning. Nikíta is long silent. Sits down on a sledge. Nikíta Here’s a go! Enter Anísya. Anísya Where are you? Nikíta Here. Anísya What are you doing there? There’s no time to be lost! We must take it out directly! Nikíta What are we to do? Anísya I’ll tell you what you are to do. And you’ll have to do it! Nikíta You’d better take it to the Foundlings’⁠—if anything. Anísya Then you’d better take it there yourself if you like! You’ve a hankering for smut, but you’re weak when it comes to settling up, I see! Nikíta What’s to be done? Anísya Go down into the cellar, I tell you, and dig a hole! Nikíta Couldn’t you manage, somehow, some other way? Anísya Imitating him. “Some other way?” Seems we can’t “some other way!” You should have thought about it a year ago. Do what you’re told to! Nikíta Oh dear, what a go! Enter Nan. Nan Mother! Grandmother’s calling! I think sister’s got a baby! I’m blest if it didn’t scream! Anísya What are you babbling about? Plague take you! It’s kittens whining there. Go into the hut and sleep, or I’ll give it you! Nan Mammy dear, truly, I swear⁠ ⁠… Anísya Raising her arm as if to strike. I’ll give it you! You be off and don’t let me catch sight of you! Nan runs into hut. To Nikíta. Do as you’re told, or else mind! Exit. Nikíta Alone. After a long silence. Here’s a go! Oh these women! What a fix! Says you should have thought of it a year ago. When’s one to think beforehand? When’s one to think? Why, last year this Anísya dangled after me. What was I to do? Am I a monk? The master died; and I covered my sin as was proper, so I was not to blame there. Aren’t there lots of such cases? And then those powders. Did I put her up to that? Why, had I known what the bitch was up to, I’d have killed her! I’m sure I should have killed her! She’s made me her partner in these horrors⁠—that jade! And she became loathsome to me from that day! She became loathsome, loathsome to me as soon as mother told me about it. I can’t bear the sight of her! Well then, how could I live with her? And then it begun.⁠ ⁠… That wench began hanging round. Well, what was I to do! If I had not done it, someone else would. And this is what comes of it! Still I’m not to blame in this either. Oh, what a go! Sits thinking. They are bold, these women! What a plan to think of! But I won’t have a hand in it! Enter Matryóna with a lantern and spade, panting. Matryóna Why are you sitting there like a hen on a perch? What did your wife tell you to do? You just get things ready! Nikíta What do you mean to do? Matryóna We know what to do. You do your share! Nikíta You’ll be getting me into a mess! Matryóna What? You’re not thinking of backing out, are you? Now it’s come to this, and you back out! Nikíta Think what a thing it would be! It’s a living soul. Matryóna A living soul indeed! Why, it’s more dead than alive. And what’s one to do with it? Go and take it to the Foundlings’⁠—it will die just the same, and the rumour will get about, and people will talk, and the girl be left on our hands. Nikíta And supposing it’s found out? Matryóna Not manage to do it in one’s own house? We’ll manage it so that no one will have an inkling. Only do as I tell you. We women can’t do it without a man. There, take the spade, and get it done there⁠—I’ll hold the light. Nikíta What am I to get done? Matryóna In a low voice. Dig a hole; then we’ll bring it out and get it out of the way in a trice! There, she’s calling again. Now then, get in, and I’ll go. Nikíta Is it dead then? Matryóna Of course it is. Only you must be quick, or else people will notice! They’ll see or they’ll hear! The rascals must needs know everything. And the policeman went by this evening. Well then, you see gives him the spade, you get down into the cellar and dig a hole