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 the duty of writing and examining kitchen bills, the stewardess of Hlohov was now weak in the art of reading and writing.

The Countess briefly announced in her letter that she had become, as her gracious father had ordained, the mistress of all his estates, and as the present owner of Hlohov she requested that the harper who presented the letter be received and entertained in the Palace with the same regard as would be paid to herself. He was her former teacher of music, she said, who wished to recover from illness in the forest air.

The face of the stewardess, while reading the letter, changed its expression several times. It pleased her to know that she was the first person in Hlohov to find out who was the owner of the castle; it flattered her to think that the Countess had thought of Hlohov, and sent there a man in whom she was so greatly interested; she rejoiced in the thought of the profits which he might bring her; but above all it tickled her that the Countess should have commended the hand-