Page:Pushkin - Russian Romance (King, 1875).djvu/175

 Nastia's complete approbation. There was but one draw-back: she endeavoured to cross the yard barefooted, but the thorns pricked her tender feet, and the sand and stones she found unbearable. Nastia came to her aid here also: she measured Lisa's foot, and hurried off to the fields to the shepherd Trophim, to whom she gave an order for a pair of bark-shoes, according to the measure delivered. Day had dawned on the morrow, and Lisa was already awake. The whole house slept. Nastia was awaiting the shepherd at the gate. The horn sounded, and the village herds were driven past her master's house. Trophim, on seeing Nastia, gave her a pair of small parti-coloured bark-shoes, receiving in recompense a half rouble. Lisa quietly proceeded to attire herself as a peasant, and, having in a whisper given Nastia some directions respecting Miss Jackson, slipped through the back gate and ran across the kitchen-garden into the fields.

The sky was lighting up in the east, and the golden tiers of clouds appeared to await the sun as courtiers await their sovereign; the clear sky, the morning freshness, the dew, the slight breeze, and the singing of birds, filled Lisa's heart with childish delight; the fear of encountering a familiar face seemed to give her wings. On reaching the limits of her father's property, she slackened her pace. It was here that she was to wait for Aleksèy. Her heart beat fast, she knew not why; but do not the very apprehensions which are associated with our youthful frolics constitute their principal charm? Lisa had now penetrated into the densest part of the wood. Its dull repeating murmur seemed to welcome the