ared no
expense, and always kept the best society. Latterly they had been
somehow attracted to Poland, and became so popular among our country
nobles, that they were invited from house to house, making new friends
wherever they went, for Russians though they were, they wished well to
our country, and, among their intimates, spoke of liberty and justice
with singular eloquence. Considering this, their popularity was no
wonder. A handsomer or more accomplished pair I never saw. Both were
tall, fair, and graceful, with hair of a light golden shade--the
sister's descending almost to her feet when unbraided, and the brother's
clustering in rich curls about the brow. They knew the dances of all
nations, could play any thing that was ever invented, whether game or
instrument, and talked in every tongue of Europe, from Romaic to
Swedish. Both could ride like Arabs. Count Theodore was a splendid shot,
his sister was matchless in singing, and neither was ever tired of fun
or frolic. They seemed of the Lorenskis' years, but had seen more of the
world; and though scarcely so dignified, most people preferred the frank
familiarity and lively converse of the travelled Russians.

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 any thing 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 neighbors, 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 re