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All who talked to her, and at each word saw her bright smile and

the constant gleam of her white teeth, thought that they were in

a specially amiable mood that day.

The little princess went round the table with quick, short,

swaying steps, her workbag on her arm, and gaily spreading out

her dress sat down on a sofa near the silver samovar, as if all

she was doing was a pleasure to herself and to all around her. "I

have brought my work," said she in French, displaying her bag and

addressing all present. "Mind, Annette, I hope you have not

played a wicked trick on me," she added, turning to her hostess.

"You wrote that it was to be quite a small reception, and just

see how badly I am dressed." And she spread out her arms to show

her short-waisted, lace-trimmed, dainty gray dress, girdled with

a broad ribbon just below the breast.

"Soyez tranquille, Lise, you will always be prettier than anyone

else," replied Anna Pavlovna.