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Rh "Yes, indeed, you ought to take him. I pray you, in God's name, take him!" continued his wife, tightening her wraps.

"That's right, as noisy as a bath-broom! But where then shall I put him?"

"Look you, I am quite ready, Vasily Andreich," cried Nikita cheerily. "There will only be the horses' fodder to look after in my absence," added he, turning to his mistress.

"I'll see to it, Nikitushka. I'll give orders to Simon," said his mistress.

"Then am I to go, Vasily Andreich?" asked Nikita, expectant.

"Ah! I see you have a wholesome respect for the missus! But if go you must, you must put on clothes a little more decent and warmer," said Vasily Andreidh, smiling once more, and glancing out of his half-closed eyes at the ragged, soiled, and shabby fringes of Nikita's jacket peeping out everywhere from underneath his furs.

"Hie, my dear soul! come hither, and hold the horse!" cried Nikita to the man-cook standing in the courtyard.

"No, let me do it! I'll do it!" screamed the little lad, drawing his frost-numbed, pretty little hands out of his pockets, and seizing hold of the cold leather reins.

"Only look sharp about your swell get-up," cried Vasily Andreich, showing his teeth again as he cracked his joke at Nikita.

"In a trice, little father," cried' Nikita, and quickly shoving his socks inside his greasy, worn-down felt 9