Page:The Writings of Prosper Merimee-Volume 5.djvu/61

43 if we deprive ourselves of your presence," I an- swered. " I am far from complaining; on the contrary, I congratulate myself on having learnt, thanks to you, that the Lithuanian Muse has reappeared more brightly than ever."

She lowered her head, and, putting her hands before her face, taking care not to disarrange her hair, she said, in the tones of a child who has just stolen some sweetmeats —

" Forgive me; I will not do it again."

" I will only pardon you, my dear Pani," I said to her, " if you will fulfil a certain promise which you were good enough to make to me at Wilno, at the house of the Princess Katazyna Paç."

"What promise?" she asked, raising her head and laughing.

" Have you forgotten so soon? You promised me that if we met in Samogitia you would let me see a certain country dance which you said was enchanting."

" Oh, the roussalka! I shall be charmed; and the very man I need is here."

She ran to a table loaded with music-books, and, turning over one hastily, put it on the piano stand.

"Mind, my dear, allegro presto" she said, addressing her governess. And she played the