"Well, but what did you buy this mass of things for?" said the

princess, smiling, and handing her husband a cup of coffee.

"One goes for a walk, one looks in a shop, and they ask you to buy.

'_Erlaucht, Durchlaucht?_' Directly they say '_Durchlaucht_,' I

can't hold out. I lose ten thalers."

"It's simply from boredom," said the princess.

"Of course it is. Such boredom, my dear, that one doesn't know

what to do with oneself."

"How can you be bored, prince? There's so much that's interesting

now in Germany," said Marya Yevgenyevna.

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"But I know everything that's interesting: the plum soup I know,

and the pea sausages I know. I know everything."

"No, you may say what you like, prince, there's the interest of

their institutions," said the colonel.

"But what is there interesting about it? They're all as pleased

as brass halfpence. They've conquered everybody, and why am I

to be pleased at that? I haven't conquered anyone; and I'm

obliged to take off my own boots, yes, and put them away too; in

the morning, get up and dress at once, and go to the dining room

to drink bad tea! How different it is at home! You get up in no

haste, you get cross, grumble a little, and come round again.

You've time to think things over, and no hurry."

"But time's money, you forget that," said the colonel.

"Time, indeed, that depends! Why, there's time one would give a

month of for sixpence, and time you wouldn't give half an hour of

for any money. Isn't that so, Katinka? What is it? why are you

so depressed?"

"I'm not depressed."

"Where are you off to? Stay a little longer," he said to

Varenka.

"I must be going home," said Varenka, getting up, and again she

went off into a giggle. When she had recovered, she said

good-bye, and went into the house to get her hat.

Kitty followed her. Even Varenka struck her as different. She

was not worse, but different from what she had fancied her

before.

"Oh, dear! it's a long while since I've laughed so much!" said

Varenka, gathering up her parasol and her bag. "How nice he is,

your father!"

Kitty did not speak.

"When shall I see you again?" asked Varenka.

"Mamma meant to go and see the Petrovs. Won't you be there?"

said Kitty, to try Varenka.

"Yes," answered Varenka. "They're getting ready to go away, so

I promised to help them pack."




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