Page:Tales and Legends from the Land of the Tzar.djvu/117

Rh fully handsome, rich young count, and began to look round for a wife. One took his fancy, but the ring was too big for her finger; another took his fancy but in this case the ring was too small. At last he determined to go in search of some other fair damsel in another kingdom. He rode, and rode through many kingdoms, towns, and countries, but all in vain; nowhere could he find a wife whose finger would fit the ring, so he returned home sad and low-spirited.

"What is the matter, brother?" asked his beautiful sister Tania. "Why are you so sad?"

He told her his troubles.

"What a strange thing," laughed Tania, looking at the ring on her brother's finger.

"I wonder whether it will fit you, Tania?"

And the young count took the ring off his own finger and tried it on his sister's. What was their surprise to find that the ring fitted Tania to perfection.

"Tania! Tania;" exclaimed the brother, "I shall marry you, and none but you, so go and get ready."

Tania at first lauglied at her brother, thinking that he was only joking; but when she saw he was in earnest, she was very angry. She was a sweet, gentle girl as a rule, but this sudden outbreak on her brother's part was rather too much for her.

"Who ever heard of a brother marrying his sister?" she exclaimed. "No, that shall never be!"

And throwing the ring on to the floor she left the room, and was about to leave the house also, but on reaching the street-door her strength gave way, and she sank down on the door-step and began to cry.