The little boy could not sleep. The room was full of people very excitedly talking about the action of the zemstvo on some subject of importance, and although he did not understand a word that they were saying, the talking and the thought of to-morrow’s journey kept him awake. He was lying on a pallet laid upon the bench against the wall in a far corner of the room, and he turned over so often that at last he fell upon the floor. He tried hard not to cry, but he could not quite help it.
The other grandmother picked him up and cuddled him in her arms. “Go to sleep,” she said, patting him gently.
The little boy shut his eyes, but in a minute they were open again.
“Mother’s-mother, I can’t sleep. Couldn’t you tell me one more story, very softly, so that the others can’t hear?”
The other grandmother laid the little boy back upon his pallet, covered him up warm, and told him about
THE VILA IN THE GOLDEN CASTLE
Once upon a time there was a father who had three sons. One day he bade the eldest go into the garden and keep watch that the swans did not eat the flowers. The son kept watch a long time, but at last sleep overcame him, and immediately the swans came and ate up the flowers.
Now these were not really swans, but Vilas.
Upon this the second brother betook himself to the garden, and with the same result.