BYEZHIN PRAIRIE
make it out well; it seemed to hide away from the moon, and kept staring and staring with its great eyes, and winking and winking with them. . . .'
'Ugh!' exclaimed Fedya with a slight shiver, and a shrug of the shoulders; 'pfoo.'
'And how does such an unclean brood come to exist in the world?' said Pavel; 'it's a wonder.'
'Don't speak ill of it; take care, it will hear you,' said Ilyusha.
Again there was a silence.
'Look, look, brothers,' suddenly came Vanya's childish voice; 'look at God's little stars; they are swarming like bees!'
He put his fresh little face out from under his rug, leaned on his little fist, and slowly lifted up his large soft eyes. The eyes of all the boys were raised to the sky, and they were not lowered quickly.
'Well, Vanya,' began Fedya caressingly, 'is your sister Anyutka well?'
'Yes, she is very well,' replied Vanya with a slight lisp.
'You ask her, why doesn't she come to see us?'
'I don't know.'
'You tell her to come.'
'Very well.'
'Tell her I have a present for her.'
'And a present for me too?'
'Yes, you too.'
Vanya sighed.
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