See! What weather!

MASHA. This doesn't concern us.

LIZA. We don't trade in flour.

ANNA IVANOVNA. What are you interrupting for! Just guess this riddle.
What's this: round--but not a girl; with a tail--but not a mouse?[1]

[Footnote 1: A turnip.]

RAZLYULYAYEV. That's a hard one!

ANNA IVANOVNA. Indeed it is!--You just think it over! Now, girls, come
along! [_The girls rise and get ready to go_] Come along, boys!

GUSLIN _and_ RAZLYULYAYEV _get ready_.

MITYA. But I'll come later. I'll put things to rights here first.

ANNA IVANOVNA. [_Sings while they are getting ready_]

"Our maids last night,
Our pretties last night,
They brewed us a brew of the beer last night.
And there came to our maids,
And there came to our pretties
A guest, a guest whom they didn't invite."

ANNA IVANOVNA _lets them all pass through the door, except_ LYUBOV
GORDEYEVNA; _she shuts the door and does not allow her to pass_.

SCENE X

MITYA _and_ LYUBOV GORDEYEVNA

LYUBOV GORDEYEVNA. [_At the door_] Stop, don't be silly! [_Through the
door the girls are heard laughing_] They won't let me out! Oh, what girls!
[_Walks away from the door_] They're always up to something.

MITYA. [_Hands her a chair_] Be seated, Lyubov Gordeyevna, and talk to me
for just a moment. I'm very glad to see you in my room.

LYUBOV GORDEYEVNA. Why are you glad? I don't understand.

MITYA. Oh, why!--It is very pleasant for me to see on your side such
consideration; it is above my deserts to receive it from you. This is the
second time I have had the good fortune--

LYUBOV GORDEYEVNA. There's nothing in that! I came here, sat awhile, and
went away again. That means nothing. Maybe I'll go away again at once.

MITYA. Oh, no! Don't go!--Why should you! [_Takes the paper out of his
pocket_] Permit me to present to you my work, the best I can do--from my
heart.

LYUBOV GORDEYEVNA. What is this?

MITYA. I made these verses just for you.

LYUBOV GORDEYEVNA. [_Trying to hide her joy_] Still, it may be just some
sort of foolishness--not worth reading.

MITYA. That I cannot judge, because I wrote it myself, and without studying
besides.

LYUBOV GORDEYEVNA. Read it.

MITYA. Directly.

_Seats himself at the table, and takes the paper_: LYUBOV GORDEYEVNA
_approaches very near to him_.

"In the meadow no grasses wither,
And never a flower doth fade;
However a fair lad fadeth
That once was a lusty blade.