Page:Leo Tolstoi - Life Is Worth Living and Other Stories - tr. Adolphus Norraikow (1892).djvu/64

 Rh so deeply engrossed, turned to the woman and began arranging about the price of the shoes. That matter being satisfactorily settled, Simeon proceeded to take the children's measures. Taking the lame girl upon her lap, the woman said:

"See here, my man; take your measure from the feet of this child—one shoe for the lame foot and three for the other. Barring this girl's defect, the feet of both are of the same size; for the children are twins."

The shoemaker did as he was directed, meanwhile asking a number of questions.

"How does it happen that she is lame?" he inquired of the woman. "She has such a pretty face! Was she born lame?"

"Not exactly," was the reply. "Soon after her birth her mother lay heavily upon her and accidentally crushed her foot."

At this point the curiosity of Simeon's wife became very much aroused, and she could not withstand the temptation to take part in the