Mrs. Ostrowska stroked one young girl gently under the chin, as she said:
"This will be your last Christmas under the home-roof, Emilia?"
"I hope so," the girl replied blushingly, as she curtsied and kissed the finger-tips of her patroness. "Francois and I are to be married at the Easter time."
"And then the young sister Helena will find her young man?"
"I hope so," the young girl reiterated.
"We shall be on the lookout for some fine fellow for her," Mrs. Ostrowska said lightly. "There are some very fine young men over to the village at the east of the estate; we must see what we can do," and she moved on, the troop of children at her heels.
Their round of the village over, the whole party returned to the dwór, where they found a servant carrying away the straw which had adorned the dining-hall.
The man stopped as he encountered the mistress of the house, and bowed his head, as if in apology.
"Our cow was taken ill last night, Madame," he explained guiltily. "We thought, perhaps, this might bring her back to health again. We need her milk for the babies. May I?" and he questioned his mistress' face hopefully.