The younger girl was on the point of wading into the pool with her shoes on, but the elder girl says, "Don't go Malasha, thy mother will scold.

Come, I'll take off my shoes, and do thou take off thine." The little lasses took off their shoes, tucked up their frocks and waded into the puddle, to meet each other.

Malasha went in up to her knees, and says, "It's deep, Akuliushka--I'm afraid" "Never mind," says she; "it won't get any deeper.

Come straight towards me." They began to approach each other, and Akulka says, "Look out, Malasha, don't splash, but walk quietly." No sooner had she spoken, than Malasha set her foot down with a bang in the water, and a splash fell straight on Akulka's frock.

The sarafan was splashed, and some of it fell on her nose and in her eyes as well.