f the green-and-white costume that was as unusual as it was
becoming to her _chic_ ugliness of feature. But to-night, for perhaps
the first time in her life, Caroline Dravikine was more interested in
the costume of another than in her own. She was determined that her
sister's appearance should be even more perfect than hers. And to this
end she went over the other's toilet detail by detail, only ending the
silent scrutiny as Masha reappeared with a slender glass of wine for her
mistress.

"Eh bien, Sophie,--yes! drink the wine. If you will not rouge you must
keep what color you have!--the sapphires are not in the least too heavy.
They have done you up very well. Sonya!" turning to one of the maids,
"catch up that curl over the right ear of the Princess. It spoils the
effect of severity that suits your face so well. So. Et maintenon, ma
chere, renvoyez vos femmes de chambre. Je veux causer avec vous en
particulier."

Sophia complied with the request: the maids, with the simple familiarity
of the Russian serf, taking their dismissal reluctantly. But Madame
Dravikine held them all in awe, and before her they did not dare the
protest that their Princess might have listened to. When the sisters
were alone, they crossed the room together and seated themselves on a
great sofa upholstered in a beautifully faded old brocade, made before
the birth of the great Catharine. And while Caroline, mindful of her
fresh gauzes, sat upright, like a bird poised for flight, her sister lay
back, wearily, crushing the veil of her headdress against a heap of
pillows.

There was a moment's pause; then the Countess began, resolutely: "Has
Michael Petrovitch seen you yet?"

"Oh no! He has not come up-stairs. I hope that he will not, Katrelka!
He--he would not be satisfied, you know."

"Sophie! Sophie! sometimes I cannot wonder that the man is a terror in
your life! Satisfied with you! Ciel! If Alexis Vassilyitch expressed
dissatisfaction with a toilet of mine, I should not speak to him for a
week. No! I should get him into such difficulties with the ministry that
he would come to me on his knees in three days! I tell you again,
Sophie, that you must assert yourself! Tell me--"

"Stop, Kasha, stop! I am too tired for all this just now. Say what you
will to-morrow. You know the thing is a great strain. Tell me only this:
Are you quite sure that his Majesty will come? Do you believe it
possible that at last everything is to be right--that we a