A FIRST ESSAY IN LOVE
PRETENDING to gather some "American fruit" from a tree,
Lubotshka suddenly plucked a leaf upon which was a huge
caterpillar, and throwing the insect with horror to the ground,
lifted her hands and sprang away as though afraid it would spit
at her. The game stopped, and we crowded our heads together as we
stooped to look at the curiosity.
I peeped over Katenka's shoulder as she was trying to lift the
caterpillar by placing another leaf in its way. I had observed
before that the girls had a way of shrugging their shoulders
whenever they were trying to put a loose garment straight on
their bare necks, as well as that Mimi always grew angry on
witnessing this manoeuvre and declared it to be a chambermaid's
trick. As Katenka bent over the caterpillar she made that very
movement, while at the same instant the breeze lifted the fichu
on her white neck. Her shoulder was close to my lips, I looked at
it and kissed it, She did not turn round, but Woloda remarked
without raising his head, "What spooniness!" I felt the tears
rising to my eyes, and could not take my gaze from Katenka. I had
long been used to her fair, fresh face, and had always been fond
of her, but now I looked at her more closely, and felt more fond
of her, than I had ever done or felt before.
When we returned to the grown-ups, Papa informed us, to our great
joy, that, at Mamma's entreaties, our departure was to be
postponed until the following morning. We rode home beside the
carriage--Woloda and I galloping near it, and vieing with one
another in our exhibition of horsemanship and daring. My shadow
looked longer now than it had done before, and from that I judged
that I had grown into a fine rider. Yet my complacency was soon
marred by an unfortunate occurrence, Desiring to outdo Woloda
before the audience in the carriage, I dropped a little behind.
Then with whip and spur I urged my steed forward, and at the
same time assumed a natural, graceful attitude, with the intention
of whooting past the carriage on the side on which Katenka was
seated. My only doubt was whether to halloo or not as I did so.
In the event, my infernal horse stopped so abruptly when just
level with the carriage horses that I was pitched forward on
to its neck and cut a very sorry figure!
