On Repentance + 

Volia, a boy of eight, stands in the passage with an empty plate and cries. Fedia, a boy of ten, comes running into the passage. + 

Fedia + 

Mother sent me to see where you were; but what are you crying for? Have you brought nurse⁠ ⁠… Sees the empty plate, and whistles. Where is the cake? + 

Volia + 

I⁠—I⁠—I wanted it, I⁠—and then suddenly⁠—Boo-hoo-hoo! All of a sudden I ate it up⁠—without meaning to. + 

Fedia + 

Instead of taking it to nurse, you have eaten it yourself on the way! Well I never! Mother thought you wanted nurse to have the cake. + 

Volia + 

I did and then suddenly, without meaning to.⁠—Boo-hoo-hoo! + 

Fedia + 

You just tasted it, and then you ate the whole of it. Well, I never! Laughs. + 

Volia + 

It is all very well for you to laugh, but how am I going to tell.⁠ ⁠… Now I can’t go to nurse⁠—or to mother either. + 

Fedia + 

A nice mess you have made of it, I must say. Ha, ha! So you have eaten the whole cake? It is no use crying. Just try to think of some way of getting out of it. + 

Volia + 

I can’t see how I can. What shall I do? + 

Fedia + 

Fancy that! Trying to restrain himself from laughing. A pause. + 

Volia + 

What am I to do now? I am lost. Howls. + 

Fedia + 

Don’t you care. Stop that howling. Simply go to mother and tell her you have eaten the cake yourself. + 

Volia + 

That is worse. + 

Fedia + 

Then go and confess to nurse. + 

Volia + 

How can I? + 

Fedia + 

Listen; you wait here. I will find nurse and tell her. She won’t mind. + 

Volia + 

No, don’t. I cannot let her know about it. + 

Fedia + 

Nonsense. You did it by mistake; it can’t be helped. I will tell her in a minute. Runs away. + 

Volia + 

Fedia, Fedia, wait! He is gone⁠—I just tasted it, and then I don’t remember how I did it. What am I to do now! Sobbing. + 

Fedia + 

Comes running back. Stop your bawling, I say. I told you nurse would forgive you. She only said, “Oh, the darling!” + 

Volia + 

She is not cross with me? + 

Fedia + 

Not a bit. She said, “I don’t care for the cake; I would have given it to him anyhow.” + 

Volia + 

But I didn’t mean to eat it. Cries again. + 

Fedia + 

Why are you crying again? We won’t tell mother. Nurse has quite forgiven you. + 

Volia + 

Nurse has forgiven me. I know she is kind and good. But me, I am a wicked boy, and that’s what makes me cry. + 