Page:The Way of a Virgin.djvu/63

Rh "Well, what of it?" asked his wife.

"What can I say?" answered the lad. "There was no bargaining with him. We must give him three hundred roubles or he will not yield us the yard. And where may we get this sum?"

"Ah, well. Return and beg him to hire thee the yard for yet another night. To-morrow I ask my father for the money, and we will buy the yard outright."

"Nay—go thyself and ask it of him. In sooth, I dare not."

She went to the uncle's house, entered his apartment, prayed to heaven, and bowed, saying:

"Good day, mine uncle."

"Thou art welcome. What good news hast thou?"

"See, mine uncle, I am shamed to speak, but 'twould be a sin an I kept sjlent. Lend thy yard to Ivan for a night."

The relative took counsel with himself, shook his head, and said:

"It can be lent, but care must be taken of a yard belonging to another."

"We will take care of it, uncle. I swear by the Cross. And to-morrow, without fail, we will buy it outright of thee."

"Go, then, and send Ivan to me."

She bowed to the earth and left the house.

On the morrow she went to seek her father, asked of him three hundred roubles for her husband, and bought for herself a good yard.