Page:The Way of a Virgin.djvu/49

Rh "Seek not," said the lackey. "Come to my master. He hath thy ring, which hath caused us a great fuss."

The peasant ran to the carriage. Quoth the lord to him:

"Pardon me, but come to my aid in my misfortune!"

"What wilt give me, lord?"

"Here are one hundred roubles."

"Give me two hundred and I will deliver thee."

The lord drew two hundred roubles from his pocket, the peasant took the money, and withdrew the ring from the lord's finger, whereat the yard vanished as if by magic, and there was left to the lord but his former little instrument.

The lord went his way, and the peasant hied him homeward with the ring. His wife was at the window and saw him come; she ran to meet him.

"Hast brought it back?" asked she.

"I have."

"Show it me!"

"Come within the chamber. I cannot show it thee outside."

They entered the chamber, nor did the wife cease to repeat: "Show it me! Show it me!"

He placed the ring on his finger-nail, and his yard lengthened a cubit's span; then he drew off his drawers, saying: "Behold, wife!"

The wife fell on his neck.

"My dear little husband, here is truly an instrument that will be better in our house than with strangers. Come swiftly and eat; then we will to bed and make trial of it."