Now Lotta Luxa was clean in the midst of her work; and one would have thought that the cleanliness of the maid would have shamed the slatternly ways of the mistress.

But Madame Zamenoy and Lotta Luxa had lived together long, and probably knew each other well.
"Well, Nina," she said, "so you've come at last ?" "Yes; I've come, aunt.

And as I want to say something very particular to you yourself, perhaps Ziska won't mind going out of the room for a minute." Nina had not sat down since she had been in the room, and was now standing before her aunt with almost militant firmness.

She was resolved to rush at once at the terrible subject which she had in hand, but she could not do so in the presence of her cousin Ziska.
Ziska groaned audibly.

"Ziska isn't well this morning," said Madame Zamenoy, "and I do not wish to have him disturbed." "Then perhaps you'll come into the front parlour, aunt." "What can there be that you cannot say before Ziska ?" "There is something, aunt," said Nina.
If there were a secret, Madame Zamenoy decidedly wished to hear it, and therefore, after pausing to consider the matter for a moment or two, she led the way into the front parlour.
"And now, Nina, what is it?
I hope you have not disturbed me in this way for anything that is a trifle." "It is no trifle to me, aunt.