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The princess smiled. She rose with the same unchanging smile with

which she had first entered the room-the smile of a perfectly

beautiful woman. With a slight rustle of her white dress trimmed

with moss and ivy, with a gleam of white shoulders, glossy hair,

and sparkling diamonds, she passed between the men who made way

for her, not looking at any of them but smiling on all, as if

graciously allowing each the privilege of admiring her beautiful

figure and shapely shoulders, back, and bosom-which in the

fashion of those days were very much exposed-and she seemed to

bring the glamour of a ballroom with her as she moved toward Anna

Pavlovna. Helene was so lovely that not only did she not show any

trace of coquetry, but on the contrary she even appeared shy of

her unquestionable and all too victorious beauty. She seemed to

wish, but to be unable, to diminish its effect.