from the village priest, and he brings them along and tells us,
"Look, children, mind you don't eat any apples before Easter, it's
a sin." You're like that. ... You don't know what a devil is, but
you go calling people devils. ... Take this crooked old woman, for
instance. [Points to EFIMOVNA] She sees an enemy in me, but is her
time, for some woman's nonsense or other, she's given her soul to
the devil five times.

EFIMOVNA. Hoo, hoo, hoo. ... Gracious heavens! [Covers her face]
Little Savva!

TIHON. What are you frightening them for? A great pleasure! [The
door slams in the wind] Lord Jesus. ... The wind, the wind!

MERIK. [Stretching himself] Eh, to show my strength! [The door
slams again] If I could only measure myself against the wind! Shall
I tear the door down, or suppose I tear up the inn by the roots!
[Gets up and lies down again] How dull!

NAZAROVNA. You'd better pray, you heathen! Why are you so restless?

EFIMOVNA. Don't speak to him, leave him alone! He's looking at us
again. [To MERIK] Don't look at us, evil man! Your eyes are like
the eyes of a devil before cockcrow!

SAVVA. Let him look, pilgrims! You pray, and his eyes won't do you
any harm.

BORTSOV. No, I can't. It's too much for my strength! [Goes up to
the counter] Listen, Tihon, I ask you for the last time. ... Just