Pagina 743 de 2288

When half the children had been dressed, some peasant women in

holiday dress, out picking herbs, came up to the bathing-shed and

stopped shyly. Marya Philimonovna called one of them and handed

her a sheet and a shirt that had dropped into the water for her

to dry them, and Darya Alexandrovna began to talk to the women.

At first they laughed behind their hands and did not understand

her questions, but soon they grew bolder and began to talk,

winning Darya Alexandrovna's heart at once by the genuine

admiration of the children that they showed.

"My, what a beauty! as white as sugar," said one, admiring

Tanitchka, and shaking her head; "but thin...."

"Yes, she has been ill."

"And so they've been bathing you too," said another to the baby.

"No; he's only three months old," answered Darya Alexandrovna

with pride.

"You don't say so!"

"And have you any children?"

"I've had four; I've two living-a boy and a girl. I weaned her

last carnival."

"How old is she?"

"Why, two years old."