“And why dost thou not marry, Vania?”
“Who would give me his daughter?”
“I, if thou wilt! Kiss me on the mouth.”
And they came to an understanding.
At the rich man’s house there was no lack of beer and brandy. The girl and the lad were wed forthwith, high feast was held, and then the best man conducted the young people to their sleeping chamber and put them to bed. One knows the sequel. Ivan pierced the young girl till she bled and there was a road by which he might travel.
“What a blockhead, what a fool I have been!” thought Dounuka. “What have I done? How much better had I taken one richly-endowed! But where hath he found this yard? I will question him.”
And she questioned him, saying:
“Hearken, Ivanouchka. Where hast got this yard?”
“I have hired it from mine uncle for one night.”
“Ah! my little dove! Beg it of him for yet another night.”