,BOOK #g1 ,*APT] #aa 

#ahfiahfi 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,LEO ,TOL/OY 

,TEXT 3 

,PELAGEYA ,DANILOVNA ,MELYUKOVA1 A BROADLY BUILT1 5]GETIC WOMAN WE>+ 
 SPECTACLES1 SAT 9 ! DRAW+ ROOM 9 A LOOSE DRESS1 SURR\ND$ BY H] 
 DAU<T]S :OM %E WAS TRY+ TO KEEP FROM FEEL+ DULL4 ,!Y W]E QUIETLY 
 DROPP+ MELT$ WAX 9TO SN[ & LOOK+ AT ! %AD[S ! WAX FIGURES 
 W\LD ?R[ ON ! WALL1 :5 !Y HE>D ! /EPS & VOICES ( NEW 
 >RIVALS 9 ! VE/IBULE4 

,HUSS>S1 LADIES1 WIT*ES1 CL[NS1 & BE>S1 AFT] CLE>+ !IR ?ROATS 
 & WIP+ ! HO>FRO/ FROM !IR FACES 9 ! VE/IBULE1 CAME 9TO ! 
 BALLROOM :]E C&LES W]E HURRI$LY LI<T$4 ,! CL[N--,DIMML]--& 
 ! LADY--,NI*OLAS--/>T$ A DANCE4 ,SURR\ND$ BY ! SCREAM+ 
 *ILDR5 ! MUMM]S1 COV]+ !IR FACES & DISGUIS+ !IR VOICES1 
 B[$ TO !IR HO/ESS & >RANG$ !MSELVES AB\T ! ROOM4 

0,DE> ME6 !RE'S NO RECOGNIZ+ !M6 ,& ,NATA%A6 ,SEE :OM %E LOOKS 
 LIKE6 ,%E REALLY REM9DS ME ( SOMEBODY4 ,BUT ,H]R ,DIMML]--ISN'T HE 
 GOOD6 ,I DIDN'T KN[ HIM6 ,& H[ HE DANCES4 ,DE> ME1 !RE'S A ,CIRCASSIAN4 
 ,REALLY1 H[ BECOM+ IT IS TO DE> ,SONYA4 ,& :O IS ?AT8 ,WELL1 Y\ HAVE 
 *E]$ US UP6 ,NIKITA & ,VANYA--CLE> AWAY ! TABLES6 ,& WE W]E 
 SITT+ SO QUIETLY4 ,HA1 HA1 HA6444 ,! HUSS>1 ! HUSS>6 ,JU/ LIKE A 
 BOY6 ,& ! LEGS6444 ,I CAN'T LOOK AT HIM4440 DIFF]5T VOICES W]E 
 SAY+4 

,NATA%A1 ! Y\NG ,MELYUKOVS' FAVORITE1 DISAPPE>$ ) !M 9TO ! 
 BACK ROOMS :]E A CORK & V>I\S DRESS+ G[NS & MALE G>M5TS W]E 
 CALL$ = & RECEIV$ FROM ! FOOTMAN BY B>E GIRLI% >MS FROM BEH9D 
 ! DOOR4 ,T5 M9UTES LAT]1 ALL ! Y\NG ,MELYUKOVS JO9$ ! MUMM]S4 

,PELAGEYA ,DANILOVNA1 HAV+ GIV5 ORD]S TO CLE> ! ROOMS = ! 
 VISITORS & >RANG$ AB\T REFRE%M5TS = ! G5TRY & ! S]FS1 
 W5T AB\T AMONG ! MUMM]S )\T REMOV+ H] SPECTACLES1 PE]+ 9TO 
 !IR FACES ) A SUPPRESS$ SMILE & FAIL+ TO RECOGNIZE ANY ( !M4 
 ,IT WAS NOT M]ELY ,DIMML] & ! ,RO/OVS %E FAIL$ TO RECOGNIZE1 %E DID 
 NOT EV5 RECOGNIZE H] [N DAU<T]S1 OR H] LATE HUSB&'S1 DRESS+ 
 G[NS & UNI=MS1 :I* !Y HAD PUT ON4 

0,& :O IS ?IS80 %E ASK$ H] GOV]NESS1 PE]+ 9TO ! FACE ( H] 
 [N DAU<T] DRESS$ UP AS A ,KAZAN-,T>T>4 0,I SUPPOSE IT IS ONE ( ! 
 ,RO/OVS6 ,WELL1 ,MR4 ,HUSS>1 & :AT REGIM5T DO Y\ S]VE 980 %E ASK$ 
 ,NATA%A4 0,H]E1 H& SOME FRUIT JELLY TO ! ,TURK60 %E ORD]$ ! BUTL] 
 :O WAS H&+ ?+S R\ND4 0,?AT'S NOT =BIDD5 BY HIS LAW40 

,SOMETIMES1 AS %E LOOK$ AT ! /RANGE BUT AMUS+ CAP]S CUT BY ! 
 DANC]S1 :O--HAV+ DECID$ ONCE = ALL ?AT BE+ DISGUIS$1 NO 
 ONE W\LD RECOGNIZE !M--W]E NOT AT ALL %Y1 ,PELAGEYA ,DANILOVNA HID 
 H] FACE 9 H] H&K]*IEF1 & H] :OLE /\T BODY %OOK ) 
 IRREPRESSIBLE1 K9DLY1 ELD]LY LAU<T]4 

0,MY LITTLE ,SA%A6 ,LOOK AT ,SA%A60 %E SAID4 

,AFT] ,RUSSIAN C\NTRY DANCES & *ORUS DANCES1 ,PELAGEYA ,DANILOVNA MADE 
 ! S]FS & G5TRY JO9 9 ONE L>GE CIRCLE3 A R+1 A /R+1 & A 
 SILV] RUBLE W]E FET*$ & !Y ALL PLAY$ GAMES TOGE!R4 

,9 AN H\R1 ALL ! CO/UMES W]E CRUMPL$ & DISORD]$4 ,! CORK$ 
 EYEBR[S & MU/A*ES W]E SME>$ OV] ! P]SPIR+1 FLU%$1 & 
 M]RY FACES4 ,PELAGEYA ,DANILOVNA BEGAN TO RECOGNIZE ! MUMM]S1 ADMIR$ 
 !IR CLEV]LY CONTRIV$ CO/UMES1 & P>TICUL>LY H[ !Y SUIT$ ! 
 Y\NG LADIES1 & %E ?ANK$ !M ALL = HAV+ 5T]TA9$ H] SO WELL4 
 ,! VISITORS W]E 9VIT$ TO SUPP] 9 ! DRAW+ ROOM1 & ! S]FS HAD 
 SOME?+ S]V$ TO !M 9 ! BALLROOM4 

0,N[ TO TELL ONE'S =TUNE 9 ! EMPTY BA?H\SE IS FRI<T5+60 SAID AN 
 OLD MAID :O LIV$ ) ! ,MELYUKOVS1 DUR+ SUPP]4 

0,:Y80 SAID ! ELDE/ ,MELYUKOV GIRL4 

0,Y\ W\LDN'T GO1 IT TAKES C\RAGE44440 

0,I'LL GO10 SAID ,SONYA4 

0,TELL :AT HAPP5$ TO ! Y\NG LADY60 SAID ! SECOND ,MELYUKOV GIRL4 

0,WELL10 BEGAN ! OLD MAID1 0A Y\NG LADY ONCE W5T \T1 TOOK A COCK1 LAID 
 ! TABLE = TWO1 ALL PROP]LY1 & SAT D[N4 ,AFT] SITT+ A :ILE1 %E 
 SUDD5LY HE>S SOMEONE COM+444 A SLEI< DRIVES UP ) H>NESS BELLS2 
 %E HE>S HIM COM+6 ,HE COMES 91 JU/ 9 ! %APE ( A MAN1 LIKE AN 
 (FIC]--COMES 9 & SITS D[N TO TABLE ) H]40 

0,AH6 AH60 SCREAM$ ,NATA%A1 ROLL+ H] EYES ) HORROR4 

0,YES8 ,& H[444 DID HE SPEAK80 

0,YES1 LIKE A MAN4 ,EV]Y?+ QUITE ALL RI<T1 & HE BEGAN P]SUAD+ H]2 
 & %E %\LD HAVE KEPT HIM TALK+ TILL COCKCR[1 BUT %E GOT 
 FRI<T5$1 JU/ GOT FRI<T5$ & HID H] FACE 9 H] H&S4 ,!N HE 
 CAU<T H] UP4 ,IT WAS LUCKY ! MAIDS RAN 9 JU/ !N44440 

0,N[1 :Y FRI<T5 !M80 SAID ,PELAGEYA ,DANILOVNA4 

0,MAMA1 Y\ US$ TO TRY Y\R FATE Y\RSELF4440 SAID H] DAU<T]4 

0,& H[ DOES ONE DO IT 9 A B>N80 9QUIR$ ,SONYA4 

0,WELL1 SAY Y\ W5T TO ! B>N N[1 & LI/5$4 ,IT DEP5DS ON :AT Y\ 
 HE>2 HAMM]+ & KNOCK+--?AT'S BAD2 BUT A S\ND ( %IFT+ 
 GRA9 IS GOOD & ONE SOMETIMES HE>S ?AT1 TOO40 

0,MAMA1 TELL US :AT HAPP5$ TO Y\ 9 ! B>N40 

,PELAGEYA ,DANILOVNA SMIL$4 

0,OH1 ,I'VE =GOTT54440 %E REPLI$4 0,BUT NONE ( Y\ W\LD GO80 

0,YES1 ,I WILL2 ,PELAGEYA ,DANILOVNA1 LET ME6 ,I'LL GO10 SAID ,SONYA4 

0,WELL1 :Y NOT1 IF Y\'RE NOT AFRAID80 

0,L\ISA ,IVANOVNA1 MAY ,I80 ASK$ ,SONYA4 

,:E!R !Y W]E PLAY+ ! R+ & /R+ GAME OR ! RUBLE GAME OR 
 TALK+ AS N[1 ,NI*OLAS DID NOT LEAVE ,SONYA'S SIDE1 & GAZ$ AT H] ) 
 QUITE NEW EYES4 ,IT SEEM$ TO HIM ?AT IT WAS ONLY TODAY1 ?ANKS TO ?AT 
 BURNT-CORK MU/A*E1 ?AT HE HAD FULLY LE>N$ TO KN[ H]4 ,& REALLY1 
 ?AT EV5+1 ,SONYA WAS BRI<T]1 MORE ANIMAT$1 & PRETTI] ?AN 
 ,NI*OLAS HAD EV] SE5 H] BE=E4 

0,SO ?AT'S :AT %E IS LIKE2 :AT A FOOL ,I HAVE BE560 HE ?\<T GAZ+ 
 AT H] SP>KL+ EYES1 & UND] ! MU/A*E A HAPPY RAPTUR\S SMILE 
 DIMPL$ H] *EEKS1 A SMILE HE HAD NEV] SE5 BE=E4 

0,I'M NOT AFRAID ( ANY?+10 SAID ,SONYA4 0,MAY ,I GO AT ONCE80 ,%E GOT UP4 

,!Y TOLD H] :]E ! B>N WAS & H[ %E %\LD /& & LI/51 & 
 !Y H&$ H] A FUR CLOAK4 ,%E ?REW ?IS OV] H] HEAD & %\LD]S 
 & GLANC$ AT ,NI*OLAS4 

0,:AT A D>L+ ?AT GIRL IS60 ?\<T HE4 0,& :AT HAVE ,I BE5 ?9K+ 
 ( TILL N[80 

,SONYA W5T \T 9TO ! PASSAGE TO GO TO ! B>N4 ,NI*OLAS W5T HA/ILY 
 TO ! FRONT POR*1 SAY+ HE FELT TOO HOT4 ,! CR[D ( PEOPLE REALLY HAD 
 MADE ! H\SE /UFFY4 

,\TSIDE1 !RE WAS ! SAME COLD /ILLNESS & ! SAME MOON1 BUT EV5 
 BRI<T] ?AN BE=E4 ,! LI<T WAS SO /RONG & ! SN[ SP>KL$ ) 
 SO MANY />S ?AT ONE DID NOT WI% TO LOOK UP AT ! SKY & ! REAL 
 />S W]E UNNOTIC$4 ,! SKY WAS BLACK & DRE>Y1 :ILE ! E>? WAS 
 GAY4 

0,I AM A FOOL1 A FOOL6 :AT HAVE ,I BE5 WAIT+ =80 ?\<T ,NI*OLAS1 & 
 RUNN+ \T FROM ! POR* HE W5T R\ND ! CORN] ( ! H\SE & ALONG 
 ! PA? ?AT L$ TO ! BACK POR*4 ,HE KNEW ,SONYA W\LD PASS ?AT WAY4 
 ,HALFWAY LAY SOME SN[-COV]$ PILES ( FIREWOOD & ACROSS & ALONG !M 
 A NETWORK ( %AD[S FROM ! B>E OLD LIME TREES FELL ON ! SN[ & ON 
 ! PA?4 ,?IS PA? L$ TO ! B>N4 ,! LOG WALLS ( ! B>N & ITS 
 SN[-COV]$ RO(1 ?AT LOOK$ AS IF HEWN \T ( SOME PRECI\S /ONE1 
 SP>KL$ 9 ! MOONLI<T4 ,A TREE 9 ! G>D5 SNAPP$ ) ! FRO/1 
 & !N ALL WAS AGA9 P]FECTLY SIL5T4 ,HIS BOSOM SEEM$ TO 9HALE NOT 
 AIR BUT ! /R5G? ( ET]NAL Y\? & GLADNESS4 

,FROM ! BACK POR* CAME ! S\ND ( FEET DESC5D+ ! /EPS1 ! 
 BOTTOM /EP UPON :I* SN[ HAD FALL5 GAVE A R++ CREAK & HE HE>D 
 ! VOICE ( AN OLD MAIDS]VANT SAY+1 0,/RAI<T1 /RAI<T1 ALONG ! 
 PA?1 ,MISS4 ,ONLY1 DON'T LOOK BACK40 

0,I AM NOT AFRAID10 ANSW]$ ,SONYA'S VOICE1 & ALONG ! PA? T[>D 
 ,NI*OLAS CAME ! CRUN*+1 :I/L+ S\ND ( ,SONYA'S FEET 9 H] ?9 
 %OES4 

,SONYA CAME ALONG1 WRAPP$ 9 H] CLOAK4 ,%E WAS ONLY A C\PLE ( PACES 
 AWAY :5 %E SAW HIM1 & TO H] TOO HE WAS NOT ! ,NI*OLAS %E HAD 
 KN[N & ALWAYS SLI<TLY FE>$4 ,HE WAS 9 A WOMAN'S DRESS1 ) T\SL$ 
 HAIR & A HAPPY SMILE NEW TO ,SONYA4 ,%E RAN RAPIDLY T[>D HIM4 

0,QUITE DIFF]5T & YET ! SAME10 ?\<T ,NI*OLAS1 LOOK+ AT H] FACE 
 ALL LIT UP BY ! MOONLI<T4 ,HE SLIPP$ HIS >MS UND] ! CLOAK ?AT 
 COV]$ H] HEAD1 EMBRAC$ H]1 PRESS$ H] TO HIM1 & KISS$ H] ON ! 
 LIPS ?AT WORE A MU/A*E & HAD A SMELL ( BURNT CORK4 ,SONYA KISS$ HIM 
 FULL ON ! LIPS1 & DIS5GAG+ H] LITTLE H&S PRESS$ !M TO HIS 
 *EEKS4 

0,SONYA6444 ,NI*OLAS60444 WAS ALL !Y SAID4 ,!Y RAN TO ! B>N & !N 
 BACK AGA91 RE5T]+1 HE BY ! FRONT & %E BY ! BACK POR*4 

,FROM 3 ,GUT5B]G4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,NOVEMB] #c1 #ahfh 3 ,BOOK #g1 ,*APT] #aa -- ,PUBLICATION4 
,FEBRU>Y #a#a1 #bag 3 ,BOOK #g1 ,*APT] #aa -- ,ADD$4 

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