listened with enjoyment to an interesting discourse concerning the
objects the children had observed that day in the wood. There were
other instructresses who had just returned from the depths of the
wood--some children were going into the wood, others were coming out,
quite different ones.

The instructress to whom the sisters were listening ended her
discourse and suddenly scampered off somewhere. Through the dark
foliage of the trees could be seen the glimmer of red caps and of
sunburnt arms and legs. The sisters were again left alone. No one paid
especial attention to them any longer; evidently there was no one they
either embarrassed or hindered.

"It's time to go," said Elena.

Elisaveta made a move.

"Yes, let's go," she agreed. "It's very interesting and delightful
here, but we can't stay for ever."

The departure of the sisters had been noticed. A few of the children
ran up to them. The children cried gaily:

"We will show you the way, or you'll get lost."

When the sisters paused at the gate, Elisaveta thought that some one
was looking at her, out of a hiding-place, with a gaze of
astonishment. In perplexity, strange and distressing, she looked
around her. Behind the hedge in the bushes a small boy and a small
girl were hiding. They were like the others she had seen here, except