Page:Leo Tolstoi - Life Is Worth Living and Other Stories - tr. Adolphus Norraikow (1892).djvu/185

 178 "Please let him go, little grandmother. He will not do it again. Let him go, for Christ's sake."

The woman, with great reluctance, finally released him, and the boy started to run; but Martin took hold of him, saying:

"Ask the old lady to forgive you and promise her that you will not do it again. I saw you take the apple myself."

The boy began to cry and soon asked to be forgiven, promising that he would not repeat the offence.

"That is the right way to do," said Martin; and taking an apple from the old woman's basket he handed it to the boy, saying: "Now you may have it." Then turning to the woman, he said: "I will pay you for it, my dear little grandmother."

"Such kind treatment is what makes those young rascals so bad," she replied. "This one deserves a reward that would render him unable to play such tricks for at least a week."