صفحة 299 من 788

Then the chambermaid, weaving into a wreath some freshly gathered

cornflowers, gave them to Telimena, who pinned them skilfully on

Zosia's head, from the right to the left: the flowers were

relieved very beautifully against the light hair, as against ears

of grain! They took off the dressing-sack; the toilet was

complete. Zosia threw over her head a white gown, and rolled up a

little white handkerchief in her hand, and thus, all in white,

she looked like a white lily herself.

After adjusting once more both her hair and her apparel, they

told her to walk the length and breadth of the room. Telimena

observed her with the eyes of an expert; she drilled her niece,

grew angry, and grimaced; finally at Zosia's curtsy she cried out

in despair:-

"Unhappy me! Zosia, you see what comes of living among geese and

shepherds! You stride along like a boy, and turn your eyes to the

right and left like a divorced woman! Curtsy! see how awkward you

are!"