Melanie had on the most simple black dress, without any decoration, only round her neck and wrists were crochet lace trimmings.
She was just as simple as Czipra. Her beautiful pale face, with its still childish features, her calm quiet look,—all beamed sympathy around her.
"My daughter, Czipra," said Topándy, introducing them.
Melanie, with that graciousness which is the mark of all ladies, offered her hand to the girl, and greeted her gently.
"Good evening, Czipra."
Czipra bitterly inquired:
"A foolish name, is it not?"
"On the contrary, the name of a goddess, Czipra."
"What goddess? Pagan?"—the idea did not please Czipra: she knit her eyebrows and nodded in disapproval.
"A holy woman of the Bible was called by this name, Zipporah,[61] the wife of Moses."