It's not at all the thing for you to be excited," said her mother.

"Oh, I'm not excited, mamma.

I fancy he will make her an offer today.

" "Ah, that's so strange, how and when a man makes an offer!... There is a sort of barrier, and all at once it's broken down," said Dolly, smiling pensively and recalling her past with Stepan Arkadyevitch.

"Mamma, how did papa make you an offer?" Kitty asked suddenly.