Of foreign whims the impersonation -

Handbook of fashionable phrase

Or parody of modern ways?

XXIII.

Hath she found out the riddle yet?

Hath she a fitting phrase selected?

But time flies and she doth forget

They long at home have her expected -

Whither two neighbouring dames have walked

And a long time about her talked.

"What can be done? She is no child!"

Cried the old dame with anguish filled:

"Olinka is her junior, see.

'Tis time to many her, 'tis true,

But tell me what am I to do?

To all she answers cruelly -

I will not wed, and ever weeps

And lonely through the forest creeps."

XXIV.

"Is she in love?" quoth one. "With whom?

Bouyanoff courted. She refused.

Petoushkoff met the selfsame doom.

The hussar Pikhtin was accused.

How the young imp on Tania doted!

To captivate her how devoted!

I mused: perhaps the matter's squared -

O yes! my hopes soon disappeared."

"But, matushka, to Moscow you(70)

Should go, the market for a maid,

With many a vacancy, 'tis said." -

"Alas! my friend, no revenue!"

"Enough to see one winter's end;

If not, the money I will lend."

[Note 70: "Matushka," or "little mother," a term of endearment in constant use amongst Russian females.]

XXV.

The venerable dame opined