FIRST MEETING BETWEEN A YOUTH AND HIS FIANCEE.[1]
AN old man had a son, a fine lad. Another old man had a daughter, a marriageable girl. They pictured these two young ones married. "Ivanouchka," said the father, "I desire thee to marry the daughter of our neighbour; approach her and discourse gently and courteously with her."
"Machoutka," said the other old man, "I would give thee in marriage to the son of our neighbour; seek to meet him and have pleasant converse with him."
These two young persons met in the street and greeted each other.
"Ivanouchka," quoth the young girl, "my father hath bade me have pleasant discourse with thee."
"My father hath instructed me likewise," answered the youth.
"What shall we do? Where sleepest thou, Ivanouchka?"
"In the hay."
"As for me," quoth the girl, "I sleep in the coach-house. Come this night to me, and we will
- ↑ Kruptadias Heilbronn: Henninger Fréres, 1883: vol. 1: Secret Stories from the Russian.
235
