KATERINA.
No, I only wondered, he has to start so soon.

VARVARA.
He's sitting locked up with mamma. She's nagging away at him now.

KATERINA.
What for?

VARVARA.
For nothing at all, teaching him to mind what he's about. He'll be a
fortnight away out of her sight! Only fancy! She has an uneasy inkling all
the time that he'll enjoy himself when he's his own master. And so she's
busy now laying all sorts of injunctions upon him, each more imperative
than the last, and then she'll take him up to the holy picture and make
him swear solemnly that he'll do everything exactly and precisely
according to her bidding.

KATERINA.
And so even when he's free he'll be as good as bound.

VARVARA.
Bound! Oh, will he! As soon as he gets away, he'll start drinking, you may
be sure. He says nothing now, but all the while he's only thinking how to
get away as soon as possible.

[_Enter Mme. Kabanova and Kabanov_.