"You would find it very hot," said the grandmother. "Did you ever go, little grandma?" asked the little boy. "No one goes nowadays," said the grandmother. "They went in your great-grandmother's time?" ventured the little boy. "Before her time, even," said the grandmother. "Things are greatly changed since then." The younger sisters had come in from swinging and were sitting on the other end of the bench. The eldest sister was walking with her betrothed in the lovely summer twilight. "No one ever went to the sun," said one of the sisters. "It is much too far off. I have learned it in school. And this world goes around it every day." "There were no schools in your great-grandmother's time," replied the grandmother, "and things were different then. The world did not move in those days; it rested on three great whales which were swimming in the ocean. My grandmother told me all about it." The little boy pondered this fact for a while. Presently he said: "One more story, little grandmother?" It was still light, for twilight is very long in Russia. The grandmother told the story of THE ENCHANTED LAMBS An Emperor once had an only daughter of surpassing beauty. In his pride he caused it to be sounded abroad through all the world that the youth who should guess the position of a certain mole on the maiden's person should have her for his wife, and the half of his empire besides. But those who did not guess right should be transformed into lambs. This wonderful news spread over the whole world, so that wooers by thousands came from all lands to sue for the Princess's hand. But all in vain. A countless number of them were changed into lambs. The news came also to the ears of a youth who was as poor as a church mouse, but who was as sharp as a needle for all that. His desire to possess the beautiful maiden and half the empire grew so strong that he decided to try his fortune; not, however, by suing at once for the maiden's hand, but by seeing her first and asking her something. Arrived at the Emperor's court, what wonders does he see! Lambs of all kinds pressed around him--God only knows how many there were. They swarmed about him, a pitiful sight and a warning example that might well turn him from his project. He would have gone back, but at the gate was a monster of a man, wrapped in a blood-red mantle, with wings, and an eye in the middle of his forehead, who cried out in a commanding voice, "Halt! Where are you going? Go back, or you are lost!" So he went back and caused himself to be announced to the Emperor's daughter, who was already waiting for him. She said to him, "Did you come to get me for your wife?" He answered, "No, Imperial Highness; but as I understood that you were thinking of marrying at the first favorable opportunity, I come to ask you if you need more bridal-clothes." "What kind of clothes have you to offer?" she asked.