With sharp eyes she scrutinized Grushenka's body and she was not dissatisfied. “So! That is how I look. A full pair of good breasts, aren't they? But mine are better!”-and taking out her own breasts from her thin shirt and holding them close to Grushenka's, she started a minute comparison-“Mine are oval and that is rare, but this slob's are round. Look at her nipples! How big and common!”-and she tickled with her own nipples those of the girl. Now it is true, there was a slight difference, but hardly noticeable. Nelidowa then took hold of Grushenka's waist with both hands and began to handle her not too tenderly. “I always said,” the mistress continued, “that I have an excellent waistline and here one can see it. Among all the court ladies, not one can compare with me.” That it was not her own waistline she admired but that of her new slave girl did not come to her mind. She proceeded to the thighs which she pinched, surprised by Grushenka's very soft flesh. “My legs,” she commented, displaying now her own thighs and squeezing them a bit, “are sturdier than those of this little bitch, but we'll take the softness out of her.” With mock laughter she commanded Grushenka to turn around. Nelidowa as well as Grushenka had a remarkably well modeled back; round female shoulders, soft and full lines down to the bottom, small and well rounded hips. Only Grushenka's buttocks were too small, almost boyish and went too evenly to the thighs. Her legs and feet were normal and straight and could have been used by artists as models. “Now!” laughed the Princess. “This is the first time that I see my own back and truly I like it. Isn't it fine that this tramp should have just my back? Next time my father confessor demands that I inflict some lashes on my own poor back, I can take hers as my substitute and I can be more generous with the number of blows I give myself.” To demonstrate this splendid idea, she gave a goodly pinch to Grushenka's flesh below the right shoulder blade. Grushenka twisted her mouth a bit but stood motionless without moving. The witnesses of this scene, especially Katerina, were astonished by the similarity between these two women as they stood close together. It was astounding to see that not only the figures, but the features and faces of both were so much alike that one could have sworn they were twin sisters. Nature sometimes plays tricks of that kind. Grushenka was younger; she had a whiter skin; she blushed at present in her excitement and looked fresher. Also her flesh was softer and a bit more female than that of Nelidowa, and she had a timid bearing and was not so self contained as the Princess. Otherwise, they were strangely alike, though no one would have dared to tell this to the Princess. “I am pleased with you, and I'll present you with my new prayer book with the pictures of the Saints in it which you admired the other day. It's yours. Go and get it.” Katerina, with a deep curtsy, kissed her mistress' hand, overjoyed that she had at last satisfied her. She was taking the girl out of the room when she was stopped by a last word of her mistress, who had watched the nude form depart. “By the way, Katerina, have all the hair under her arms and on her dirty crotch removed so that she doesn't infect my garments. And have her spotlessly washed and powdered. You know how filthy these pigs are.” Katerina assured her she would have the girl taken care of. Katerina had Grushenka take her clothes over her arm and went with her again to the basement.
She knew that both girls had to be taken in as new serfs and she took care of the requirements usual on such occasions in her efficient way.
Grushenka and the other girl sat a few minutes later before a huge, cleanly washed table. Soon plates of food, brought quickly by other serf girls, piled up before them. A new serf was always fed to the utmost by the new master, and the girls were hardly able to do justice to the resources of the kitchen of Prince Sokolow. Their former diet as supplied by the stingy cousin had consisted of coarse bread, onions and rice, and many of the dishes which now stood before them were utterly unknown to them. They ate all they could but had to give up when a big apple pudding proved too much for their filled stomachs. Grushenka had been sitting nude through the meal. When they had eaten, the blonde girl was asked to take her clothes off.