"
At this moment the door was softly opened, and a lackey, who made his
appearance at the threshold, beckoned to Woronzow.
"What is it, Woronzow?" asked the princess, while, wholly unembarrassed
by the presence of the lackey, she played with the profuse dark locks of
the kneeling Razumovsky.
"An invitation from the Regent Anna to a court-ball, which is to take
place fourteen days hence," said Woronzow.
"Ah, our good cousin is, then, so gracious as to remember us," cried
the princess, with a somewhat clouded brow. "It will certainly be a very
magnificent festival, as we are invited so many days in advance. How sad
that I cannot have the pleasure of being present!"
"And why not, if one may be allowed to ask, princess?" asked Woronzow.
"Why?" sighed Elizabeth. "Ask my waiting-woman; she will tell you that
the Princess Elizabeth, daughter of the great Czar Peter, has not
one single robe splendid enough to render her presentable, without
mortification, at a court-ball of the regent."
"Whatever robe you may wear," passionately interposed Alexis, "you will
still be resplendent, for your beauty will impart a divine halo to any
dress!"
That was precisely the kind of flattery pleasing to Elizabeth.
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