floor. Little Lucie whispered to me that they
were going to have a parlor carpet if they got
ninety cents for their wheat. Leo, with a
good deal of fussing, got out his violin. It
was old Mr. Shimerda's instrument, which
Antonia had always kept, and it was too big
for him. But he played very well for a self-
taught boy. Poor Yulka's efforts were not so
successful. While they were playing, little
Nina got up from her corner, came out into
the middle of the floor, and began to do a
pretty little dance on the boards with her
bare feet. No one paid the least attention to
her, and when she was through she stole back
and sat down by her brother.

Antonia spoke to Leo in Bohemian. He
frowned and wrinkled up his face. He seemed
to be trying to pout, but his attempt only
brought out dimples in unusual places. After
twisting and screwing the keys, he played
some Bohemian airs, without the organ to hold
him back, and that went better. The boy was
so restless that I had not had a chance to
look at his face before. My first impression
was right; he really was faun-like. He hadn't
much head behind his ears, and his tawny
fleece grew down thick to the back of his

[[392]]

p391 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p392w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p393

v?