The Lorenskis themselves could not but applaud that general
preference. They and the travellers had become fast friends almost on
their first acquaintance, which took place in the previous winter; and
Count Theodore and his sister had performed a long wintry journey from
St Petersburg, to celebrate the Christmas-time with them. Peasants and
servants rejoiced at their coming, for they were known to be liberal.
The old priest said it had never been his luck to see anything decent
out of Russia before, and my uncle's entire household were delighted,
with the exception of Constantine. By and by, I guessed the cause of
his half-concealed displeasure. The brother of each pair took
wonderfully to the sister of the other. Count Theodore talked of
buying an estate in Lithuania; and the young cousins predicted, that
though Emerich and Constanza might be near neighbours, they would not
live all their days free and single. After the Russians' arrival,
there was nothing but sport among us. We had dances and concerts,
plays, and all manner of games; but the deep snow of our Polish winter
had not hardened to the usual strong ice, over marsh, river, and
forest-land. It continued falling day after day, shutting all our
amusements within doors, and preventing, to our general regret, the
wonted wolf-hunt, always kept up in Lithuania from the middle of
December till Christmas-eve.

It was a custom, time immemorial, in the province, and followed as
much for the amusement it afforded the young people, as for the
destruction of the deadly prowler. The mode of conducting it was this:
Every two or three families who chanced to be intimate when the ice
was sufficiently strong and smooth for sledge-travelling, sent forth a
party of young hunters, with their sisters and sweethearts, in a
sledge covered at the one end, which was also well cushioned and gaily
painted; the ladies in their best winter-dresses took possession of