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"I made a blind choice among men equal in rank and riches, all so mediocre and uninteresting that it mattered not which I chose. This was the motive of my preference for M. de Riancourt, Katinka. Besides, although marriage has its inconveniences, widowhood has still greater ones. So, it is the better to marry, after all; it saves the trouble of wondering what we shall do."
Of course, papa and mamma won't consent, and Katinka hates him, but, you see, he has got lots of powerful relations at court. If it hadn't been for that, I hear that he would have been dismissed from the army long since; and, worst of all, he is governor here, and can send to headquarters any lying report he likes, and do papa dreadful harm."
"Although M. de Riancourt has no gold mines in Crimea, silver mines in the Ural Mountains, diamond " "In mercy, Katinka, don't go over the list of my riches!" cried the countess, impatiently. "Well, madame, although the duke has not your immense possessions, he is one of the wealthiest and greatest noblemen in France; he is young and handsome, has never led a dissipated life, and "
Katinka explained that the clothes had belonged to her brother, who was now a lieutenant in a regiment stationed in Poland, and that they had long been outgrown; he being now, as she signified by holding up her hand, over six feet in height.
"Well, that can also be done in this instance!" promptly responded the baroness, proffering, without affectation of maidenly coyness, the ceremonial kiss, and cordially shaking hands with the vice-palatine. Then she said: "We are now Bernat bácsi, and Katinka; and as that is happily arranged, I will ask the gentlemen to go into the agent's office and conclude our official business.
She did not ask if she might do so, but flung open the sash, leaned far out, and waved her handkerchief to the vice-palatine, who was driving swiftly across the causeway. When Herr Bernat Görömbölyi, in his character of emissary, arrived at the manor, he proceeded at once to state his errand: "My lovely sister Katinka, I am come a-wooing as this nosegay on my breast indicates.
At the risk of his wealth and rank being suspected, he dressed himself in new and rich garments, and hurried away towards the Smolnoi. The old nurse, Katinka, in her scarlet gown, opened the door for him, and was the first to say, "Christ is arisen!" What could he do but give her the usual kiss?
The lads gained great credit with all for their gallantry, and Katinka said, laughing, "It is wrong to say so, I suppose, now he is dead, but I should like to have seen the count struggling as Jack carried him along, like a little ant with a great beetle." They all laughed. "Oh, come now," Jack said; "there was not so much difference as all that.
"Tinker?" "Yes; short for Katinka, Katinka Jallinger." "Good-by, Miss Jallinger." "Good-by. Dad's name is Henry Boone Jallinger, of Kentucky, ef ye was ever askin'." "Thank you." He turned away as she swiftly re-entered the house. As he walked away, he half expected to hear her voice uplifted again in the camp-meeting chant, but he was disappointed.
The study door was heard to close, and when the sound of Paul's feet returning along the corridor ceased Dick said, "You will excuse us, countess, we are going to join the conference." "It is too bad," Katinka exclaimed, "to keep us in the dark in this way.
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