Her father could not bear to refuse her , and the three beggars were allowed to sleep in a loft , and at night , when everyone in the house was fast asleep , little Anastasia got up , climbed up to the loft , and peeped in . The three old men stood in the middle of the loft , leaning on their sticks , with their long grey beards flowing down over their hands , and were talking together in low voices . ` What news is there ? ' asked the eldest . ` In the next village the peasant Ivan has just had his seventh son . What shall we name him , and what fortune shall we give him ? ' said the second . The third whispered , ` Call him Vassili , and give him all the property of the hard-hearted man in whose loft we stand , and who wanted to drive us from his door . ' After a little more talk the three made themselves ready and crept softly away . Anastasia , who had heard every word , ran straight to her father , and told him all . Mark was very much surprised ; he thought , and thought , and in the morning he drove to the next village to try and find out if such a child really had been born . He went first to the priest , and asked him about the children in his parish . ` Yesterday , ' said the priest , ' a boy was born in the poorest house in the village . I named the unlucky little thing `` Vassili . '' He is the seventh son , and the eldest is only seven years old , and they hardly have a mouthful amongst them all . Who can be got to stand godfather to such a little beggar boy ? ' The merchant 's heart beat fast , and his mind was full of bad thoughts about that poor little baby . He would be godfather himself , he said , and he ordered a fine christening feast ; so the child was brought and christened , and Mark was very friendly to its father . After the ceremony was over he took Ivan aside and said : ` Look here , my friend , you are a poor man . How can you afford to bring up the boy ?
Give him XXXXX me and I 'll make something of him , and I 'll give you a present of a thousand crowns .
After In about from of on over so to with