The little princess went round the table with quick,
short,swaying steps, her workbag on her arm,
and gaily spreading out her dress sat down on a sofa near
the silver samovar,
as if all she was doing was a pleasure to herself
and to all around her.
"I have brought my work,"
said she in French,
displaying her bag and addressing all present.
"Mind, Annette,
I hope you have not played a wicked trick on me,"
she added,turning to her hostess.
"You wrote that it was to be quite a small reception,
and just see how badly I am dressed."
And she spread out her arms to show her short-waisted,
lace-trimmed, dainty gray dress,
girdled with a broad ribbon just below the breast.
"Soyez tranquille, Lise,
you will always be prettier than anyone else,"
replied Anna Pavlovna.