He did not think that they had much originality, for they reminded him of hundreds of similar effusions. But Sina was so pretty and looked at him with those dark eyes of hers in such a pleading way that he gravely replied:
“I thought them quite charming and melodious.”
Sina smiled, surprised that such praise could please her so much.
“Ah! you don’t know my Sinotschka yet!” said Lialia, “she is all that is beautiful and melodious.”
“You don’t say so!” exclaimed Ivanoff.
“Yes, indeed I do!” persisted Lialia. “Her voice is beautiful and melodious, and so are her poems; she herself is a beauty; her name, even, is beautiful and melodious.”
“Oh! my goodness! What more can you say than that!” cried Ivanoff. “But I am quite of your opinion.”
At all these compliments Sina blushed with pleasure and confusion.
“It is time to go home,” said Lida abruptly. She did not like to hear Sina praised, for she considered herself far prettier, cleverer, and more interesting.
“Are you going to sing something?” asked Sanine.