" And with the familiarity and easy grace peculiar to him, he raised the maid of honor's hand to his lips, kissed it, and swung it to and fro as he lay back in his armchair, looking in another direction.

"Attendez," said Anna Pavlovna, reflecting, "I'll speak to Lise, young Bolkonski's wife, this very evening, and perhaps the thing can be arranged.

It shall be on your family's behalf that I'll start my apprenticeship as old maid.

" Anna Pavlovna's drawing room was gradually filling.

The highest Petersburg society was assembled there: people differing widely in age and character but alike in the social circle to which they belonged.