Pagina 710 de 788

It was time to begin the polanaise.-The Chamberlain stepped

forward, and, lightly throwing back the flowing sleeves of his

kontusz and twirling his mustache, he offered his arm to Zosia;

with a polite bow he invited her to lead off in the first couple.

Behind the Chamberlain a long line of couples formed; the signal

was given and the dance began-he was its leader.

Over the greensward glittered his crimson boots, the light

gleamed from his sabre and his rich girdle shone; he advanced

slowly, with seeming carelessness-yet in every step and every

motion one could read the feelings and the thoughts of the

dancer. He stopped, as if he wished to question his lady; he bent

his head down towards her as if wishing to whisper in her ear;

the lady averted her head, was bashful, would not listen; he

doffed his white cap and bowed humbly; the lady deigned to gaze

upon him, but still kept a stubborn silence; he slackened his

pace, followed her glances with his eyes, and at last he

laughed.-Happy in her reply, he advanced more quickly, gazing

down at his rivals; now he hung his white cap with its heron's

plumes over his brow, now he shook it above his brow; at last he

cocked it over his ear and twirled his mustache.