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"O, auntie," said Zosia sadly, "how am I to blame? You have

locked me up, auntie; there was nobody to dance with; to pass the

time away I liked to feed the birds and to pet the children. But

just wait, auntie, till I've lived among other people for a

little while; you'll see how I improve."

"Well, of the two evils," said her aunt, "it was better to stay

with the birds than with such a rabble as have hitherto been our

guests; just recollect who have been our visitors here: the

parish priest, who mumbled a prayer or played checkers, and the

lawyers with their tobacco pipes! They are noble cavaliers! You

would have learned fine manners from them! Now at all events

there is some one to show yourself to; we have a well-bred

company in the house. Note well, Zosia, we have here a young

Count, a gentleman, well educated, a relative of the Wojewoda;

see that you are polite to him."