Pagina 302 di 788

Telimena discharged the duties of hostess, greeted those who

entered, offered them seats, and entertained them with

conversation; she presented her niece to each in turn, first of

all to Thaddeus, as being his near relative. Zosia curtsied

politely; he bowed low, wanted to say something to her, and had

already opened his lips; but, when he looked into Zosia's eyes he

was so abashed, that, standing dumb before her, he first flushed

and then grew pale. What lay upon his heart, he himself could not

guess; he felt himself very unhappy-he had recognised Zosia-by

her stature and her bright hair and her voice! That form and that

little head he had seen as she stood upon the fence; that

charming voice had aroused him to-day for the hunt.