A second night passed and she said to him again:
“Little dove! Beg of thine uncle if he will not sell thee the yard outright. But bargain well.”
“Good. One can always bargain.”
He went to the house of his grandsire, came to an understanding with him,[28] and returned to his home.
“Well, what of it?” asked his wife.
“What can I say?” answered the lad. “There was no bargaining with him. We must give him three hundred roubles or he will not yield us the yard. And where may we get this sum?”
“Ah, well. Return and beg him to hire thee the yard for yet another night. To-morrow I ask my father for the money, and we will buy the yard outright.”
“Nay—go thyself and ask it of him. In sooth, I dare not.”
She went to the uncle’s house, entered his apartment, prayed to heaven, and bowed, saying:
“Good day, mine uncle.”