NATASHA [_at hallway door_] Don't forget your wife, Andrei!
KLESHTCH. All right.
PEPEL. She's a wonderful girl!
BUBNOFF. She's all right.
PEPEL. What makes her so curt with me? Anyway--she'll come to no good
here . . .
BUBNOFF. Through you--sure!
PEPEL. Why through me? I feel sorry for her . . .
BUBNOFF. As the wolf for the lamb!
PEPEL. You lie! I feel very sorry for her . . . very . . . very sorry!
She has a tough life here--I can see that . . .
KLESHTCH. Just wait till Vassilisa catches you talking to her!
BUBNOFF. Vassilisa? She won't give up so easily what belongs to
her--she's a cruel woman!
PEPEL [_stretching himself on the bunk_] You two prophets can go to
hell!
KLESHTCH. Just wait--you'll see!
LUKA [_singing in the kitchen_] "In the dark of the night the way is
black . . ."
KLESHTCH. Another one who yelps!
PEPEL. It's dreary! Why do I feel so dreary? You live--and everything
seems all right. But suddenly a cold chill goes through you--and then
everything gets dreary . . .