Page:Pushkin - Russian Romance (King, 1875).djvu/177

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The LADY-RUSTIC
165

Aleksèy wished to assimilate their positions. But Lisa looked at him and burst out in a laugh.

"Thou art telling a story," said she; "but it is not a fool thou hast got hold of. I can see that thou art the master himself."

"What makes thee think so?"

"Everything."

"But—?"

"Well, how is it possible not to distinguish the servant from the master? Thy dress is different, thou speakest differently, and thou even callest the dog in an outlandish way."

Aleksèy fancied Lisa more and more, and not being accustomed to stand upon ceremony with young country girls, he was about to embrace her, but Lisa jumped aside, and assumed suddenly such a severe and freezing look, that Aleksèy was amused; it kept him from any further attempts.

"If you wish that we should remain friends henceforth," said she, with importance, "you must, please, not forget yourself."

"Who taught thee so much wisdom?" said Aleksèy, with a laugh. "Can it be my friend, Nástinka, your young mistress's maid? Is that the way civilization travels?"

Lisa felt that she had overdone her part, and corrected herself immediately.

"And what dost thou fancy?" said she: "thinkest thou that I have never been in a gentleman's house? No fear; I have seen and heard most things. However,"

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