Page:The Way of a Virgin.djvu/45

 "Dear wife, thou knowest that I was a bachelor, and very poor; when I resolved to marry, I had neither gold nor aught else to enable me so to. So I have pledged my yard."

"And for what sum hast thou pledged thy yard?"

"But for little—for fifty roubles."

"Good. On the morrow I will go seek my mother, I will beg money of her, and thou wilt go without fail to recover thy yard. If thou dost not buy it back, enter not the house!"

She waited until morn, then ran switly in search of her mother, saying:

"Grant me a favour, little mother. Give me fifty roubles. I have sore need of them."

"But tell me why thou hast need of them."

"See, little mother. My husband had a yard which reached to his knees. When we desired to marry, he knew not where to find the money, the poor man, and he hath pledged his yard for fifty roubles. Now my husband hath but a tiny yard, even smaller than a finger. 'Tis of the utmost necessity, therefore, to buy back his ancient yard."

The mother, understanding the need, drew fifty roubles from her purse, and gave them to her daughter. The latter returned to her home and gave the money to her husband, saying:

"Go! Run now swiftly to buy back thine ancient yard, in order that strangers may not make use of it!"

The young man took the money and went forth, eyes downcast. Where might he turn now?