, and she slept comfortably all
night. Early next morning she got up, washed herself, prayed
to God, got all her things together, packed them away in proper
order, dressed herself (in her best things), and looked something
like a lass!--a bride fit for any place whatsoever!

Now it was winter time, and out of doors was a rattling
frost. Early in the morning, between daybreak and sunrise,
the old man harnessed the mare to the sledge, and led it up to
the steps. Then he went indoors, sat down on the window-sill,
and said:--

"Now then! I've got everything ready."

"Sit down to table and swallow your victuals!" replied the
old woman.

The old man sat down to table, and made his daughter sit
by his side. On the table stood a pannier; he took out a loaf,[278]
and cut bread for himself and his daughter. Meantime his
wife served up a dish of old cabbage soup, and said:--

"There, my pigeon, eat and be off; I've looked at you quite
enough! Drive Marfa to her bridegroom, old man. And look
here, old greybeard! drive straight along the road at first, and
then turn off from the road to the right, you know, into the
forest--right up to the big pine that stands on the hill, and there
hand Marfa over to Morozko (Frost)."

The old man opened his eyes wide, also his mouth, and
stopped eating, and the girl began lamenting.

"Now then, what are you hanging your chaps and squealing
about?" said her stepmother. "Surely your bridegroom is a
beauty, and he's that rich! Why, just see what a lot of things
belong to him, the firs, the pine-tops, and the birches, all in
their robes of down--ways and means that any one might envy;
and he himself a _bogatir_!"[279]

The old man silently placed the things on the sledge, made
his daughter put on a warm pelisse, and set off on the journey.
After a time, he reached the forest, turned off from the road;
and drove across the frozen snow.[280] When he got into the
depths of the forest, he stopped, made his daughter get out,
laid her basket under the tall pine, and said:--

"Sit here, and await the bridegroom. And mind you receive
him as pleasantly as you can."

Then he turned his horse round and drove off homewards.

The girl sat and shivered. The cold had pierced her through.
She would fain have cried aloud, but she had not strength
enough; only her teeth chattered. Suddenly she heard a
sound. Not far o