attractively around her head, and as it was lifted quite high at the
back, her neck showed--sunburnt and gracefully erect. Elisaveta's face
had a keen, almost exaggerated, expression of the mastery of will and
intellect over the emotions. The long and peculiarly straight parting
of her lips was very exquisite. Her blue eyes were cheerful--even when
her lips did not smile. Their glance was thoughtful and gentle. The
bright ruddiness and strong tan of the face seemed strangely alien to
it.

While waiting for Elena to finish dressing Elisaveta walked slowly on
the sandy bank and looked into the monotonous distances. The fine warm
grains of sand gently warmed her bare feet, which had grown cold in
the water.

Elena dressed slowly. She enjoyed dressing; everything that she put on
seemed an adornment to her. She delighted in the rosy reflections of
her skin, in her pretty light dress of a pinkish white material, in
her broad sash of pink silk fastened behind with a buckle of
mother-of-pearl, in her straw hat trimmed with bright pink ribbons on
top and yellow-pink velvet on its underbrim.

At last Elena was dressed. The sisters climbed the sloping bank and
went where their curiosity drew them. They loved to take long walks.
They had already passed several times the house and grounds of Giorgiy
Trirodov, whom they had not yet seen once. To-day they wished to go
that way again and to try and see what was to be seen.

The sisters walked two versts through the wood. They spoke quietly of
various things, and felt a little agitated. Curiosity often agitates
people.