“No, I’m not asleep,” answered Raduz’ cap. “I’m just stretching.”
Presently the old man called out again: “Here, boy, hand me my clothes.”
“In a minute,” the cap answered. “Just wait till I put on my slippers.”
Then old Yezibaba awoke. “Ludmila!” she cried. “Get up, you lazy girl, and hand me my skirt and bodice.”
“In a minute! In a minute!” the kerchief answered.
“What’s the matter?” Yezibaba scolded. “Why are you so long dressing?”
“Just one more minute!” the kerchief said.
But Yezibaba, who was an impatient old witch, sat up in bed and then she could see that Ludmila’s bed was empty. That threw her into a fine rage and she called out to her husband:
“Now, old man, what have you got to say? As sure as I’m alive that good-for-nothing boy is gone and that precious daughter of yours has gone with him!”
“No, no,” the old man said. “I don’t think so.”