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Article THE COUNTESS AND THE SERF* ← Page 5 of 23 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Countess And The Serf*
from her for ever , and she became the inmate of a new and strange home . It is true that , as ive have already stated , she was received in that new home with tenderness and love , but the memory of the past still haunted her like a dark ancl vague dream , ancl threw a shadow of sadness over her character . Even
while sharing with her cousin in the caresses of Zamoiski , she shrank from invading the rights of her buoyant and fearless playmate , and was conscious that she possessed no equal claim to his affection ; ancl this conviction , ivhich rendered her timid and reserved as a child , far from becoming weakened by time , grew stronger as she contrasted the imperious self-possession of
Anna with her own painful sense of helplessness and dependence , and induced a coldness and sadness of manner ivhich somewhat marred the extraordinary beauty by which she was distinguished . In his hours of joyousness , Ivan was solely occupied by his fostersister ; her ready laugh and answering jest doubled every enjoyment , and lent a new impetus to every pleasure ; but when
occasionally some adverse circumstance cast a gloom over his spirit , he sought for sympathy from her cousin . Eudoxia could understand and feel for him , and in those moments she seemed dearer to him than Anna ; but as the cloud passed by , and the sunshine streamed once more across his path , he turned again to the bright smile Avhich wooed him back to his allegiance , and
Eudoxia was , if not forgotten , at least partially overlooked . It sufficed , however , that the shade should deepen upon the brow of the fair orphan to bring Ivan to her feet ; he did not pause to ask himself whence he derived the power of restoring her to cheerfulness ; he only felt glad and proud to find that he possessed it ; and thus , alternately occupied with the two cousins , his devotion excited no alarm or suspicion in the count , who ivas as reckless of the future as the three inexperienced beings who formed his world .
Thus were things situated at the castle when Zamoiski suddenly announced his intention of ldsiting the estates of the Countess Eudoxia , which had been committed to the guardianship of a hired steward , in order to ascertain how he had acquitted himself of his trust ; and as his absence must extend to an entire month , whieh he declared himself unable to pass without the society of at least one of his children , he desired Ivan to make the necessary arrangements , and to bear him
company . Two days afterwards the travellers commenced their journey ; and they had no sooner disappeared than the young countess wiped away her tears , and pressing her lips to the pale cheek of her cousin , exclaimed gaily , " We haye no time to weep , Eu-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Countess And The Serf*
from her for ever , and she became the inmate of a new and strange home . It is true that , as ive have already stated , she was received in that new home with tenderness and love , but the memory of the past still haunted her like a dark ancl vague dream , ancl threw a shadow of sadness over her character . Even
while sharing with her cousin in the caresses of Zamoiski , she shrank from invading the rights of her buoyant and fearless playmate , and was conscious that she possessed no equal claim to his affection ; ancl this conviction , ivhich rendered her timid and reserved as a child , far from becoming weakened by time , grew stronger as she contrasted the imperious self-possession of
Anna with her own painful sense of helplessness and dependence , and induced a coldness and sadness of manner ivhich somewhat marred the extraordinary beauty by which she was distinguished . In his hours of joyousness , Ivan was solely occupied by his fostersister ; her ready laugh and answering jest doubled every enjoyment , and lent a new impetus to every pleasure ; but when
occasionally some adverse circumstance cast a gloom over his spirit , he sought for sympathy from her cousin . Eudoxia could understand and feel for him , and in those moments she seemed dearer to him than Anna ; but as the cloud passed by , and the sunshine streamed once more across his path , he turned again to the bright smile Avhich wooed him back to his allegiance , and
Eudoxia was , if not forgotten , at least partially overlooked . It sufficed , however , that the shade should deepen upon the brow of the fair orphan to bring Ivan to her feet ; he did not pause to ask himself whence he derived the power of restoring her to cheerfulness ; he only felt glad and proud to find that he possessed it ; and thus , alternately occupied with the two cousins , his devotion excited no alarm or suspicion in the count , who ivas as reckless of the future as the three inexperienced beings who formed his world .
Thus were things situated at the castle when Zamoiski suddenly announced his intention of ldsiting the estates of the Countess Eudoxia , which had been committed to the guardianship of a hired steward , in order to ascertain how he had acquitted himself of his trust ; and as his absence must extend to an entire month , whieh he declared himself unable to pass without the society of at least one of his children , he desired Ivan to make the necessary arrangements , and to bear him
company . Two days afterwards the travellers commenced their journey ; and they had no sooner disappeared than the young countess wiped away her tears , and pressing her lips to the pale cheek of her cousin , exclaimed gaily , " We haye no time to weep , Eu-