Afterreceivinghervisitors, thecountesswassotiredthatshegaveorderstoadmitnomore, buttheporterwastoldtobesuretoinvitetodinnerallwhocame "tocongratulate." Thecountesswishedtohaveatête-à-têtetalkwiththefriendofherchildhood, PrincessAnnaMikhaylovna, , withhertear-wornbutpleasantface, drewherchairnearertothatofthecountess.

"WithyouIwillbequitefrank," saidAnnaMikhaylovna."Therearenotmanyleftofusoldfriends! That'swhyIsovalueyourfriendship."

'shand.

"Vera," shesaidtohereldestdaughterwhowasevidentlynotafavorite, "howisityouhavesolittletact? Don'tyouseeyouarenotwantedhere? Gototheothergirls, or..."

ThehandsomeVerasmiledcontemptuouslybutdidnotseematallhurt.

"Ifyouhadtoldmesooner, Mamma, Iwouldhavegone," sherepliedassherosetogotoherownroom.

Butasshepassedthesittingroomshenoticedtwocouplessitting, , , happyfaces.

Itwaspleasantandtouchingtoseetheselittlegirlsinlove; butapparentlythesightofthemrousednopleasantfeelinginVera.

"HowoftenhaveIaskedyounottotakemythings?" shesaid."Youhavearoomofyourown," andshetooktheinkstandfromNicholas.

"Inaminute, inaminute," hesaid, dippinghispen.

"Youalwaysmanagetodothingsatthewrongtime," continuedVera."Youcamerushingintothedrawingroomsothateveryonefeltashamedofyou."

Thoughwhatshesaidwasquitejust, perhapsforthatveryreasonnoonereplied, .

"AndatyouragewhatsecretscantherebebetweenNatashaandBoris, orbetweenyoutwo? It'sallnonsense!"

"Now, Vera, whatdoesitmattertoyou?" saidNatashaindefense, speakingverygently.

Sheseemedthatdaytobemorethaneverkindandaffectionatetoeveryone.