Page:More Tales from Tolstoi.djvu/161

 The Children Wiser than the Eiders sides. Malashka went in over her ankles and cried:

"It is so deep, Akulyushka, I'm afraid."

"Oh, it's nothing. It won't get any deeper, come straig'ht towards me!"

They drew nearer. Presently Akul'ka said:

"Look out, Malashka! don't splash so much! Go more quietly!"

No sooner were the words out of her mouth than Malashka went plump! with her foot in the water, and splashed Akul'ka's sarafan all over. The sarafan was splashed all over, and the water went into the eyes and nose of Akul'ka also. On seeing the great stains on her sarafan Akul'ka began to be very angry with Malashka, scolded her, ran after her, and would have beaten her. Malashka grew frightened, saw that she had done mischief, leaped out of the puddle, and ran off home. Akul'ka's mother passed by, saw her daughter's sarafan all splashed, and her bodice all dirty.

"Where have you been, you dirty little wretch?" cried she.

"Malashka splashed me on purpose," said she. Akul'ka's mother seized Malashka and boxed her ears. Malashka howled so that the whole street could hear it. Malashka's mother came rushing out.

"Why do you beat my little one?" cried she, and she began to abuse her neighbour.

One word led to another, and the women reviled one another to their hearts' content. Then the muzhiks themselves came out and formed quite a