Redemption and two other plays Part 40

NAN. But I heard it! Blest if I didn't hear it! Such a thin voice!

MiTRITCH. Heard indeed! Much you heard! Well, if you know,--why then it was just such a little girl as you that the bogey popped into his bag and made off with.

NAN. What bogey?

MiTRITCH. Why, just his very self! (Climbs up on to the oven.) The oven is beautifully warm to-night. Quite a treat! Oh Lord! Gracious Nicholas!

NAN. Daddy! are you going to sleep?

MiTRITCH. What else? Do you think I'm going to sing songs?

[Silence.

NAN. Daddy! Daddy, I say! They are digging! they're digging--don't you hear? Blest if they're not, they're digging!

MiTRITCH. What are you dreaming about? Digging! Digging in the night!

Who's digging? The cow's rubbing herself, that's all. Digging indeed!

Go to sleep I tell you, else I'll just put out the light!

NAN. Daddy darling, don't put it out! I won't ... truly, truly, I won't. It's so frightful!

MiTRITCH. Frightful? Don't be afraid and then it won't be frightful.

Look at her, she's afraid, and then says it's frightful. How can it help being frightful if you are afraid? Eh, what a stupid little girl!

[Silence. The cricket chirps.

NAN (whispers). Daddy! I say, daddy! Are you asleep?

MiTRITCH. Now then, what d'you want?

NAN. What's the bogey like?

MiTRITCH. Why, like this! When he finds such a one as you, who won't sleep, he comes with a sack and pops the girl into it, then in he gets himself, head and all, lifts her dress, and gives her a fine whipping!

NAN. What with?

MiTRITCH. He takes a birch-broom with him.

NAN. But he can't see there--inside the sack!

MiTRITCH. He'll see, no fear!

NAN. But I'll bite him.

MiTRITCH. No, friend, him you can't bite!

NAN. Daddy, there's some one coming! Who is it? Oh gracious goodness!

Who can it be?

MiTRITCH. Well, if some one's coming, let them come! What's the matter with you? I suppose it's your mother!

[Enter ANiSYA.

ANiSYA (NAN pretends to be asleep). Mitritch!

MiTRITCH. What?

ANiSYA. What's the lamp burning for? We are going to sleep in the summer-hut.

MiTRITCH. Why, you see I've only just got straight. I'll put the light out all right.

ANiSYA (rummages in her box and grumbles). When a thing's wanted one never can find it!

MiTRITCH. Why, what is it you are looking for?

ANiSYA. I'm looking for a cross. Suppose it were to die unbaptized! It would be a sin, you know!

MiTRITCH. Of course it would! Everything in due order.... Have you found it?

ANiSYA. Yes, I've found it.

[Exit.

MiTRITCH. That's right, else I'd have lent her mine. Oh Lord!

NAN (jumps up trembling). Oh, oh, daddy! Don't go to sleep; for goodness' sake, don't! It's so frightful!

MiTRITCH. What's frightful?

NAN. It will die--the little baby will! At Aunt Irene's the old woman also baptized the baby, and it died!

MiTRITCH. If it dies, they'll bury it!

NAN. But maybe it wouldn't have died, only old Granny Matryona's there! Didn't I hear what granny was saying? I heard her! Blest if I didn't!

MiTRITCH. What did you hear? Go to sleep, I tell you. Cover yourself up, head and all, and let's have an end of it!

NAN. If it lived, I'd nurse it!

MiTRITCH (roars). Oh Lord!

NAN. Where will they put it?

MiTRITCH. In the right place! It's no business of yours! Go to sleep I tell you, else mother will come; she'll give it you!

[Silence.

NAN. Daddy! Eh, daddy! That girl, you know, you were telling about --they didn't kill her?