"Well, you can't get the best of me!"
Liudmilla began to tickle him.
"So that's your way," he exclaimed as he giggled, and he wriggled away from her and caught her around the waist.
Then a tussle began. Liudmilla saw at once that Sasha was the stronger. As she could not beat him by strength, she cunningly made the best of an opportune moment and tripped up Sasha's foot—he fell and pulled Liudmilla down with him. Liudmilla easily freed herself and pressed him down on the floor. Sasha cried:
"That's not fair!"
Liudmilla put her knees on his stomach and held him on the floor with her hands. Sasha made great efforts to get free. Liudmilla began to tickle him again. Sasha's loud laughter mingled with hers. She laughed so much that she had to let Sasha go. She fell to the floor, still laughing. Sasha jumped to his feet. He was red and rather provoked.
"Russalka (water nymph)!" he shouted.
But the Russalka was lying on the floor, laughing.
Liudmilla seated Sasha on her knees. Tired with the wrestling, they sat happily and closely, looking into each other's eyes and smiling.
"I'm heavy for you. I shall hurt your knee. You'd better let me go."