nce, belonged to that class of persons who always speak as though
some one were contradicting them, even though no one else may be saying
a word. First she would raise her voice, then lower it and then take on
a fresh access of vivacity as she looked at the persons present, but not
participating in the conversation, with an air of endeavouring to draw
them into it.

Although the Princess kissed Grandmamma's hand and repeatedly called her
"my good Aunt," I could see that Grandmamma did not care much about her,
for she kept raising her eyebrows in a peculiar way while listening
to the Princess's excuses why Prince Michael had been prevented from
calling, and congratulating Grandmamma "as he would like so-much to
have done." At length, however, she answered the Princess's French with
Russian, and with a sharp accentuation of certain words.

"I am much obliged to you for your kindness," she said. "As for Prince
Michael's absence, pray do not mention it. He has so much else to do.
Besides, what pleasure could he find in coming to see an old woman like
me?" Then, without allowing the Princess time to reply, she went on:
"How are your children my dear?"

"Well, thank God, Aunt, they grow and do their lessons and
play--particularly my eldest one, Etienne, who is so wild that it
is almost impossible to keep him in order. Still, he is a clever and
promising boy. Would you believe it, cousin," (this last to Papa, since
Grandmamma altogether uninterested in the Princess's children, had
turned to us, taken my verses out from beneath the presentation box, and
unfolded them again), "would you believe it, but one day not long ago--"
and leaning over towards Papa, the Princess related something or other
with great vivacity. Then, her tale concluded, she laughed, and, with a
questioning look at Papa, went on:

"What a boy, cousin! He ought to have been whipped, but the trick was
so spirited and amusing that I let him off." Then the Princess looked at
Grandmamma and laughed again.

"Ah! So you WHIP your children, do you" said Grandmamma, with a
significant lift of her eyebrows, and laying a peculiar stress on the
word "WHIP."

"Alas, my good Aunt," replied the Princess in a sort of tolerant tone
and with another glance at Papa, "I know your views on the subject, but
must beg to be allowed to differ with them. However much I have thought
over and read and talked about the matter, I have always been forced to
come to the conclusion t