TherewasnownooneinthereceptionroomexceptPrinceVasiliandtheeldestprincess, , andPierrethoughthesawtheprincesshidesomethingasshewhispered:
"Ican'tbearthesightofthatwoman."
"Catichehashadteaservedinthesmalldrawingroom," saidPrinceVasilitoAnnaMikhaylovna."Goandtakesomething, mypoorAnnaMikhaylovna, oryouwillnotholdout."
ToPierrehesaidnothing, .
"ThereisnothingsorefreshingafterasleeplessnightasacupofthisdeliciousRussiantea," ', whodidnotknowhowtodance, hadlikedsittinginthisroomtowatchtheladieswho, astheypassedthroughintheirballdresseswithdiamondsandpearlsontheirbareshoulders, , andinthemiddleofthenightamotleythrongofpeoplesatthere, notmerrymaking, butsomberlywhispering, , , andtheywerebothspeakinginexcitedwhispers.
"Permitme, Princess, toknowwhatisnecessaryandwhatisnotnecessary," saidtheyoungerofthetwospeakers, evidentlyinthesamestateofexcitementaswhenshehadslammedthedoorofherroom.
"But, mydearprincess," answeredAnnaMikhaylovnablandlybutimpressively, blockingthewaytothebedroomandpreventingtheotherfrompassing, "won'tthisbetoomuchforpoorUncleatamomentwhenheneedsrepose? Worldlyconversationatamomentwhenhissoulisalreadyprepared..."
PrinceVasiliwasseatedinaneasychairinhisfamiliarattitude, , whichweresoflabbythattheylookedheavierbelow, weretwitchingviolently; butheworetheairofamanlittleconcernedinwhatthetwoladiesweresaying.
"Come, mydearAnnaMikhaylovna, ."
