Parascha sits by her window, singing of her lover as she sews. Her friend, a Hussar, appears singing a gipsy song, and their flirting resolves itself into a declaration of their love for each other. They arrange a meeting, and the Hussar goes off as Parascha’s mother enters. The mother complains that the house is in chaos since their cook has died, and sends Parascha off to ask the neighbors about finding a new maid. Alone, the mother remembers the virtues of the late, lamented servant. A neighbor comes in, and the two ladies gossip about the weather, the servant problem, and, that subject dear to feminine hearts, clothes. Suddenly Parascha appears to announce that she has found a new cook. The ‘cook’ is none other than the Hussar dressed in servant’s clothes. The mother tells ‘her’ about her duties, and asks her name. It is Mavra, and she knows all about the faithful, old servant who has died. The neighbor and the mother go off, leaving ‘Mavra’ and Parascha to revel in the success of their plot, and renew their vows of love. Alone, as Parascha goes off to join her mother, the bogus cook decides to shave. He is in the midst of this operation, when he is discovered by the mother. Her cries of ‘thief’ attract the neighbor and Parascha, and confusion reigns as the Hussar escapes through a convenient window.