YEGOR

The devil take you all! Brought up and fed a lot of--_(Exit)_

LIPA _(handing him milk and dark bread)_

You seem to be happy to-night?

SAVVA

Yes, I am, and you are happy too.

LIPA _(laughing)_

I am.

SAVVA

And I am happy. _(He drinks the milk with avidity; the footsteps in the street grow louder, filing the room with their sound, and then die away again)_ What a treading and a tramping!

LIPA _(looking out of the window)_

The weather will be fine to-morrow. As long as I can remember the sun has always been shining brightly that way.

SAVVA

Hm, yes. That's good.

LIPA

And when they carry the ikon, it sparkles all over with the precious stones like fire. Only His face remains gloomy. All the gems don't give him any pleasure. He is sad and gloomy like the people's woe.

SAVVA _(coolly)_

Hm, yes. Is that so?

LIPA

Just think how many tears have fallen upon Him, how many sighs and groans He has heard! That alone is enough to make the ikon holy for all who love and sympathize with the people and understand their soul.

Why, they have n.o.body except Christ, all those unfortunate, miserable people. When I was a little girl, I was always waiting for a miracle--

SAVVA

It would be interesting.

LIPA

But now I understand that He Himself is waiting for a miracle from the people. He is waiting for the people to stop fighting, hating, and destroying each other.

SAVVA

Well, what of it?

LIPA _(fixing her gaze upon him)_

Nothing. To-morrow you'll see for yourself when they carry Him in the procession. You'll see what effect the mere consciousness that He is there with them has upon them, how it transforms them, what it does to them. The whole year round they live a dog's life, in filth, quarrelling with each other, suffering. On that day all the ugliness seems to vanish. It is an awful and a joyous day when suddenly you cast away from yourself all that is superfluous and when you feel so clearly your nearness to all the unfortunates that are and ever were, and your nearness to G.o.d.

SAVVA _(abruptly)_

What time is it?

SPERANSKY

The clock has just struck a quarter past eleven, if I am not mistaken.

LIPA

It's still early.

SAVVA

Early for what?

LIPA

Nothing. It's still early, that's all.

SAVVA _(suspiciously)_

What do you mean?

LIPA _(defiantly)_

What I mean.

SAVVA

Why did you say it's still early?

LIPA _(paling)_

Because it's only a little after eleven; but when it's twelve--

SAVVA _(jumping up and going to her quickly; fixing her with his stare, he speaks slowly, p.r.o.nouncing every word separately and distinctly)_ So? Is that it? When it's twelve--_(He turns to Speransky without removing his eyes from Lipa)_ Listen, you go home.

LIPA _(frightened)_

No, stay, Mr. Speransky. Please stay, I beg you.