Pagina 296 de 788

"My dear Zosia, you are quite forgetful both of your age and of

your station in life. Why, to-day you are beginning your

fourteenth year; it is time to give up turkeys and hens. Fie! is

such fun worthy of a dignitary's daughter? And you have petted

long enough those sunburned peasants' children, Zosia! My heart

aches to look at you; you have tanned your shoulders dreadfully,

like a real little gypsy; and you walk and move like a village

girl. From now on I shall see that all this is changed. I shall

begin to-day; to-day I shall take you into society, to the

drawing-room, to our guests; we have a throng of guests here. See

that you do not cause me shame."

Zosia jumped from her place and clapped her hands; and, clasping

both arms around her aunt's neck, she wept and laughed by turns

for very joy.