Zibeline - Volume 1

gne appeared to be draped in a Siberian mantle rarely seen at that season. A deep and clinging covering

the borders of the lake belonging to the Skaters' Club, and watched the hosts of pretty women descending from their c

entered in turn a small building reserved for ladies, whence she soon came forth in full skating a

e reserved for the mothers and sisters of the members of the club, so that they could o

f the Charity Orphan Asylum; the latter had come to look on at the first essay on the ice of her daughter, Madame de Thomery; the

of chasseuys. His hair, cut rather short, had become slightly gray on his temples, but his jaunty moustache and well-trimmed beard were as yet innocent of a single silver th

ng scientific flourishes on the ice, in rivalry against the crosses dashed off by Madame de Lisieux and Madame de Nointel-two other patronesses of the orphanage-the most renowned among all the fashionable skaters. This sort of tourney natu

e crisp snow, a light American sleigh, to which was harnessed a magnificent trotter, whose head and shoulder

the entrance. His owner, throwing the reins to a groom perched up behind, sprang lightly to the ground ami

tion to the proper functionary, and went ac

neaux, with an affected air. "Do you know he

le de Vermont, and that she was born in Louisiana, of an old French family that emigrated to the North, and recently became rich in the fur trade-from which circumstance Madame de Nointel has

ers, in whose eyes her millions

as been presented to you?"

s young lady, and her absolute lack of any respectable chaperon, have decided me to break off any relations that might throw discred

ly that her interlocutor had been among the first to d

clad in dainty, laced boots, a pair of steel skates, with tangent blades, and without either grooves or straps, and to da

brows. Her complexion was pale, and her little aquiline nose showed thin, dilating nostrils. Her rosy lips, whose corners drooped slig

but elegant cut, and was adorned with superb trimmings of black fox, which matched her toque and a

dulations a trifle too much of the dainty hose; but the reve

" murmured Mada

this in a skirt with a train," was the

ingling with the other skaters, contented herself with skirting the borders of the lake, rapidly des

challenging glance in her direction, and, striking out vigorously i

se, and, wheeling around with a wide, outward curve, her body swaying low, she allowed him to pass before her

aylight was waning, and a continued sound of closing ga

some evolutions in the deepening twilight, looking like the heroines in the old ball

rive home, these two gentle dames-for the daughter was worthy of the mother-did not fail to sneer at the fair stranger, dilat

her for that!" laughingly said the Duchess who, it seemed, had

k she was deliberately trying to do it!" exclaimed Madame Desv

ed chiefly by equestrians, had indeed overtaken the Duchess's carriage. Turning abruptly to the lef

said the General, with a shrug, and, settling hims

the Duchess ordered the coachman to take her home, a

ine with us

replied, "but we shal

lor apartment, which he had occupied from time to ti