ds.

LIPA

Leave him alone. He is like Cain. He can't find a place on the earth.
Everybody is rejoicing, and he--

FRIAR

His face is black. I am sorry for him.

LIPA

He is black all through. You had better keep away from him, Vassya.
You don't know whom you are pitying. You are too young. I am his
sister. I love him, but if he is killed, it will be a benefit to the
whole world. You don't know what he wanted to do. The very thought of
it is terrible. He is a madman, Vassya, a fearful lunatic. Or else he
is--I don't know what.

FRIAR _(waving his hand)_

You needn't tell me all that. I know. Of course I know. Don't I see?
But I am sorry for him all the same, and I am disgusted too. Why did
he do it? Why? What stupid things people will do! Oh, my!

LIPA

I have only one hope--that he has understood at last. But if--

FRIAR

Well, what's the "if"?

LIPA

Oh, nothing, but--When he came here, it was as if a cloud had passed
across the sun.

FRIAR

There you go also! You should be happy--Why don't you rejoice? Don't
be "iffing" and "butting."

_[A crowd begins to collect gradually. Two wagons with cripples stop
on the road. A paralytic has been sitting for some time under a tree,
crying and blowing his nose and wiping it with his sleeve. A Man in
Peasant Overcoat appears from the direction of the monastery._

MAN IN OVERCOAT _(officiously)_

We must get the cripples over to Him, to the ikon--we must get them
over there. What's the matter, women, are you asleep? Come on, move
along. You'll get your rest over there. What's the matter with you,
gran'pa? Why aren't you moving along? You ought to be there with your
legs. Go on, old man, go on.

PARALYTIC _(crying)_

I can't walk.

MAN IN OVERCOAT _(fussily)_

Oh, that's it? That's what's the matter with you, eh? Come, I'll give
you a lift. Get up.

PARALYTIC

I can't.

PASSER-BY

Won't his legs work? What you want to do is to put him on his feet,
and then he'll hop away by himself. Isn't that right, old man?

MAN IN OVERCOAT

You take hold of him on that side, and I'll take this one. Well, old
man, get a move on you. You won't have to suffer long now.

PASSER-BY

There he goes hop, hop. That's right. Go it, go it, old man, and you
won't get left. _(He goes away)_

FRIAR _(smiling happily)_

They started him going all right. Clever, isn't it? He is galloping
away at a great rate too. Good-bye, old gran'pa.

LIPA _(crying)_

Lo