Page:The Russian story book, containing tales from the song-cycles of Kiev and Novgorod and other early sources.djvu/343

 Ivan Tsarevich left home when he was only nine days old, and now he brings Peerless Beauty to me as my daughter. Well, I never!"

"Well, we never!" cried the nurse-maidens in a chorus, as they ran to get ready for the second wedding, which was to be celebrated with great splendour. "Really, we never did! Whoever would have thought it?"

There is very little doubt that Ivan Tsarevich was the first "nine days' wonder" that ever was.