But plainer girls they oft had seen.

Obedient then to Nature's law,

With her they did associate,

Squeeze tiny hands and osculate;

Her tresses curled in fashion saw,

And oft in whispers would impart

A maiden's secrets - of the heart.

XLIV.

Triumphs - their own or those of friends -

Hopes, frolics, dreams and sentiment

Their harmless conversation blends

With scandal's trivial ornament.

Then to reward such confidence

Her amorous experience

With mute appeal to ask they seem -

But Tania just as in a dream

Without participation hears,

Their voices nought to her impart

And the lone secret of her heart,

Her sacred hoard of joy and tears,

She buries deep within her breast

Nor aught confides unto the rest.

XLV.

Tattiana would have gladly heard

The converse of the world polite,

But in the drawing-room all appeared

To find in gossip such delight,

Speech was so tame and colourless

Their slander e'en was weariness;

In their sterility of prattle,

Questions and news and tittle-tattle,

No sense was ever manifest

Though by an error and unsought -

The languid mind could smile at nought,

Heart would not throb albeit in jest -