"For the third time I offer you my arm," he said to her after a little time, turning to her.

Anna gazed at him and did not know what to say.

Princess Betsy came to her rescue.

"No, Alexey Alexandrovitch; I brought Anna and I promised to take her home," put in Betsy.

"Excuse me, princess," he said, smiling courteously but looking her very firmly in the face, "but I see that Anna's not very well, and I wish her to come home with me.