Page:Russian Fairy Book (N. H. Dole).djvu/46

28 and as soon as he touched the floor he became a fine young man. The girl was startled, but as soon as he began to talk with her it is impossible to tell how gay and happy she felt in her heart.

They talked till dawn, no one knows about what, but as soon as it began to grow light Finist the Bright-Hawk kissed her and said: "Every night when you set the ruby-red flower in the window I will come flying to you, my darling. And here is a feather from my wing; if ever you want any fine things, take the feather and wave it to the right, and in a twinkling anything that your heart desires will be at your service."

He kissed her again, changed into a bright hawk, and flew off into the dark forest.

The young girl followed her betrothed with her gaze, then closed the window and went to bed.

From that time forth, every night she stood the ruby-red flower in the open window, and the fine young man, Finist the Bright-Hawk, always came to her.

Once it was a Sunday. The bells began to ring in church. The two older sisters prepared to go to mass. They dressed themselves in their smart new dresses, they put on new kerchiefs, they