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RUSSIAN ROMANCE.

she continued, "it is not in talking to thee that I shall find mushrooms. Thou, sir, must go one way, and I another. Fare thee well."

Lisa was about to withdraw.

Aleksèy seized her hand. "What is thy name, my soul?"

"Akulina!" answered Lisa, endeavouring to free her fingers from Aleksèy's grasp. "Let go, sir; it is time for me to be running home."

"Well, my friend Akulina, I shall certainly come and see thy father, Vasily the blacksmith."

"What next?" replied Lisa quickly: "for Heaven's sake do not come. It will go badly with me, if they find out at home that I have been taking a walk in the woods with a gentleman; my father, Vasily the blacksmith, will beat me to death."

"But I must see thee again, without fail."

"Well, then, may be I shall come again to gather mushrooms some day."

"When?"

"Well, say to-morrow."

"Dear Akulina, I would kiss thee, but dare not. To-morrow, then, about this time, eh?"

"Yes, yes."

"Thou wilt not deceive me?"

"I shall not."

"Swear that thou wilt not."

"Well then, by Holy Friday, I shall come."

The young people separated. Lisa went out of the wood, scampered across the fields, stole into the garden,

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