The sounds of voices, laughter, songs, and the cracking of seeds mingled just as they had done in the daytime, but were now more distinct.

Clusters of white kerchiefs and caps gleamed through the darkness near the houses and by the fences.
In the square, before the shop door which was lit up and open, the black and white figures of Cossack men and maids showed through the darkness, and one heard from afar their loud songs and laughter and talk.

The girls, hand in hand, went round and round in a circle stepping lightly in the dusty square.

A skinny girl, the plainest of them all, set the tune: 'From beyond the wood, from the forest dark, From the garden green and the shady park, There came out one day two young lads so gay.
Young bachelors, hey! brave and smart were they! And they walked and walked, then stood still, each man, And they talked and soon to dispute began! Then a maid came out; as she came along, Said, "To one of you I shall soon belong!" 'Twas the fair-faced lad got the maiden fair, Yes, the fair-faced lad with the golden hair! Her right hand so white in his own took he, And he led her round for his mates to see! And said, "Have you ever in all your life, Met a lass as fair as my sweet little wife ?"' The old women stood round listening to the songs.

The little boys and girls ran about chasing one another in the dark.