,BOOK #f1 ,*APT] #ad 

#ahfiahfi 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,LEO ,TOL/OY 

,TEXT 3 

,ON ! ?IRTY-FIR/ ( ,DECEMB]1 ,NEW ,YE>'S ,EVE1 #ahi - #a AN OLD GR&EE 
 ( ,CA!R9E'S DAY WAS GIV+ A BALL & MIDNI<T SUPP]4 ,! DIPLOMATIC 
 CORPS & ! ,EMP]OR HIMSELF W]E TO BE PRES5T4 

,! GR&EE'S WELL-KN[N MANSION ON ! ,5GLI% ,QUAY GLITT]$ ) 
 9NUM]ABLE LI<TS4 ,POLICE W]E /ATION$ AT ! BRI<TLY LIT 5TRANCE 
 :I* WAS C>PET$ ) R$ BAIZE1 & NOT ONLY G5D>MES BUT DOZ5S ( 
 POLICE (FIC]S & EV5 ! POLICE MA/] HIMSELF /OOD AT ! POR*4 
 ,C>RIAGES KEPT DRIV+ AWAY & FRE% ONES >RIV+1 ) R$-LIV]I$ 
 FOOTM5 & FOOTM5 9 PLUM$ HATS4 ,FROM ! C>RIAGES EM]G$ M5 WE>+ 
 UNI=MS1 />S1 & RIBBONS1 :ILE LADIES 9 SAT9 & ]M9E CAUTI\SLY 
 DESC5D$ ! C>RIAGE /EPS :I* W]E LET D[N = !M ) A CLATT]1 
 & !N WALK$ HURRI$LY & NOISELESSLY OV] ! BAIZE AT ! 5TRANCE4 

,ALMO/ EV]Y TIME A NEW C>RIAGE DROVE UP A :ISP] RAN ?R\< ! CR[D 
 & CAPS W]E D(F$4 

0,! ,EMP]OR8444 ,NO1 A M9I/]444 PR9CE444 AMBASSADOR4 ,DON'T Y\ SEE 
 ! PLUMES84440 WAS :ISP]$ AMONG ! CR[D4 

,ONE P]SON1 BETT] DRESS$ ?AN ! RE/1 SEEM$ TO KN[ EV]YONE & 
 M5TION$ BY NAME ! GREATE/ DIGNIT>IES ( ! DAY4 

,A ?IRD ( ! VISITORS HAD ALREADY >RIV$1 BUT ! ,RO/OVS1 :O W]E TO 
 BE PRES5T1 W]E /ILL HURRY+ TO GET DRESS$4 

,!RE HAD BE5 MANY DISCUSSIONS & PREP>ATIONS = ?IS BALL 9 ! 
 ,RO/OV FAMILY1 MANY FE>S ?AT ! 9VITATION W\LD NOT >RIVE1 ?AT ! 
 DRESSES W\LD NOT BE READY1 OR ?AT SOME?+ W\LD NOT BE >RANG$ AS IT 
 %\LD BE4 

,M>YA ,IGNATEVNA ,P]ONSKAYA1 A ?9 & %ALL[ MAID ( HONOR AT ! C\RT 
 ( ! ,D[AG] ,EMPRESS1 :O WAS A FRI5D & RELATION ( ! C\NTESS & 
 PILOT$ ! PROV9CIAL ,RO/OVS 9 ,PET]SBURG HI< SOCIETY1 WAS TO 
 ACCOMPANY !M TO ! BALL4 

,!Y W]E TO CALL = H] AT H] H\SE 9 ! ,TAURIDA ,G>D5S AT T5 
 O'CLOCK1 BUT IT WAS ALREADY FIVE M9UTES TO T51 & ! GIRLS W]E NOT 
 YET DRESS$4 

,NATA%A WAS GO+ TO H] FIR/ GR& BALL4 ,%E HAD GOT UP AT EI<T ?AT 
 MORN+ & HAD BE5 9 A FEV] ( EXCITEM5T & ACTIVITY ALL DAY4 ,ALL 
 H] P[]S S9CE MORN+ HAD BE5 CONC5TRAT$ ON 5SUR+ ?AT !Y ALL--%E 
 H]SELF1 ,MAMA1 & ,SONYA--%\LD BE AS WELL DRESS$ AS POSSIBLE4 
 ,SONYA & H] MO!R PUT !MSELVES 5TIRELY 9 H] H&S4 ,! C\NTESS 
 WAS TO WE> A CL>ET-COLOR$ VELVET DRESS1 & ! TWO GIRLS :ITE GAUZE 
 OV] P9K SILK SLIPS1 ) ROSES ON !IR BODICES & !IR HAIR DRESS$ A 
 LA GRECQUE4 

,EV]Y?+ ESS5TIAL HAD ALREADY BE5 DONE2 FEET1 H&S1 NECKS1 & E>S 
 WA%$1 P]FUM$1 & P[D]$1 AS BEFITS A BALL2 ! OP5WORK SILK 
 /OCK+S & :ITE SAT9 %OES ) RIBBONS W]E ALREADY ON2 ! 
 HAIRDRESS+ WAS ALMO/ DONE4 ,SONYA WAS F9I%+ DRESS+ & SO WAS ! 
 C\NTESS1 BUT ,NATA%A1 :O HAD BU/L$ AB\T HELP+ !M ALL1 WAS 
 BEH9DH&4 ,%E WAS /ILL SITT+ BE=E A LOOK+-GLASS ) A DRESS+ 
 JACKET ?R[N OV] H] SL5D] %\LD]S4 ,SONYA /OOD READY DRESS$ 9 ! 
 MIDDLE ( ! ROOM &1 PRESS+ ! HEAD ( A P9 TILL IT HURT H] DA9TY 
 F+]1 WAS FIX+ ON A LA/ RIBBON ?AT SQUEAK$ AS ! P9 W5T ?R\< 
 IT4 

0,?AT'S NOT ! WAY1 ?AT'S NOT ! WAY1 ,SONYA60 CRI$ ,NATA%A TURN+ H] 
 HEAD & CLUT*+ ) BO? H&S AT H] HAIR :I* ! MAID :O WAS 
 DRESS+ IT HAD NOT TIME TO RELEASE4 0,?AT B[ IS NOT RI<T4 ,COME H]E60 

,SONYA SAT D[N & ,NATA%A P9N$ ! RIBBON ON DIFF]5TLY4 

0,ALL[ ME1 ,MISS6 ,I CAN'T DO IT LIKE ?AT10 SAID ! MAID :O WAS HOLD+ 
 ,NATA%A'S HAIR4 

0,OH1 DE>6 ,WELL !N1 WAIT4 ,?AT'S RI<T1 ,SONYA40 

0,>5'T Y\ READY8 ,IT IS NE>LY T510 CAME ! C\NTESS' VOICE4 

0,DIRECTLY6 ,DIRECTLY6 ,& Y\1 ,MAMA80 

0,I HAVE ONLY MY CAP TO P9 ON40 

0,DON'T DO IT )\T ME60 CALL$ ,NATA%A4 0,Y\ WON'T DO IT RI<T40 

0,BUT IT'S ALREADY T540 

,!Y HAD DECID$ TO BE AT ! BALL BY HALF-PA/ T51 & ,NATA%A HAD /ILL 
 TO GET DRESS$ & !Y HAD TO CALL AT ! ,TAURIDA ,G>D5S4 

,:5 H] HAIR WAS DONE1 ,NATA%A1 9 H] %ORT PETTICOAT FROM UND] :I* 
 H] DANC+ %OES %[$1 & 9 H] MO!R'S DRESS+ JACKET1 RAN UP TO 
 ,SONYA1 SCRUT9IZ$ H]1 & !N RAN TO H] MO!R4 ,TURN+ H] MO!R'S 
 HEAD ?IS WAY & ?AT1 %E FA/5$ ON ! CAP &1 HURRI$LY KISS+ H] 
 GRAY HAIR1 RAN BACK TO ! MAIDS :O W]E TURN+ UP ! HEM ( H] SKIRT4 

,! CAUSE ( ! DELAY WAS ,NATA%A'S SKIRT1 :I* WAS TOO LONG4 ,TWO MAIDS 
 W]E TURN+ UP ! HEM & HURRI$LY BIT+ (F ! 5DS ( ?READ4 ,A 
 ?IRD ) P9S 9 H] M\? WAS RUNN+ AB\T BETWE5 ! C\NTESS & 
 ,SONYA1 & A F\R? HELD ! :OLE ( ! GOSSAM] G>M5T UP HI< ON ONE 
 UPLIFT$ H&4 

0,MAVRA1 QUICK]1 D>L+60 

0,GIVE ME MY ?IMBLE1 ,MISS1 FROM !RE4440 

0,:5EV] WILL Y\ BE READY80 ASK$ ! C\NT COM+ TO ! DOOR4 0,H]E IS 
 SOME SC5T4 ,P]ONSKAYA MU/ BE TIR$ ( WAIT+40 

0,IT'S READY1 ,MISS10 SAID ! MAID1 HOLD+ UP ! %ORT5$ GAUZE DRESS 
 ) TWO F+]S1 & BL[+ & %AK+ SOME?+ (F IT1 AS IF BY ?IS 
 TO EXPRESS A CONSCI\SNESS ( ! AIR9ESS & PURITY ( :AT %E HELD4 

,NATA%A BEGAN PUTT+ ON ! DRESS4 

0,9 A M9UTE6 ,9 A M9UTE6 ,DON'T COME 91 ,PAPA60 %E CRI$ TO H] FA!R 
 AS HE OP5$ ! DOOR--SPEAK+ FROM UND] ! FILMY SKIRT :I* 
 /ILL COV]$ H] :OLE FACE4 

,SONYA SLAMM$ ! DOOR TO4 ,A M9UTE LAT] !Y LET ! C\NT 94 ,HE WAS 
 WE>+ A BLUE SWALL[-TAIL COAT1 %OES & /OCK+S1 & WAS P]FUM$ 
 & HIS HAIR POMAD$4 

0,OH1 ,PAPA6 H[ NICE Y\ LOOK6 ,*>M+60 CRI$ ,NATA%A1 AS %E /OOD 9 
 ! MIDDLE ( ! ROOM SMOO?+ \T ! FOLDS ( ! GAUZE4 

0,IF Y\ PLEASE1 ,MISS6 ALL[ ME10 SAID ! MAID1 :O ON H] KNEES WAS 
 PULL+ ! SKIRT /RAI<T & %IFT+ ! P9S FROM ONE SIDE ( H] 
 M\? TO ! O!R ) H] TONGUE4 

0,SAY :AT Y\ LIKE10 EXCLAIM$ ,SONYA1 9 A DESPAIR+ VOICE AS %E LOOK$ 
 AT ,NATA%A1 0SAY :AT Y\ LIKE1 IT'S /ILL TOO LONG40 

,NATA%A /EPP$ BACK TO LOOK AT H]SELF 9 ! PI] GLASS4 ,! DRESS WAS 
 TOO LONG4 

0,REALLY1 MADAM1 IT IS NOT AT ALL TOO LONG10 SAID ,MAVRA1 CRAWL+ ON H] 
 KNEES AFT] H] Y\NG LADY4 

0,WELL1 IF IT'S TOO LONG WE'LL TACK IT UP444 WE'LL TACK IT UP 9 ONE 
 M9UTE10 SAID ! RESOLUTE ,DUNYA%A TAK+ A NE$LE ?AT WAS /UCK ON ! 
 FRONT ( H] LITTLE %AWL &1 /ILL KNEEL+ ON ! FLOOR1 SET TO WORK 
 ONCE MORE4 

,AT ?AT MOM5T1 ) S(T /EPS1 ! C\NTESS CAME 9 %YLY1 9 H] CAP 
 & VELVET G[N4 

0,OO-OO1 MY BEAUTY60 EXCLAIM$ ! C\NT1 0%E LOOKS BETT] ?AN ANY ( 
 Y\60 

,HE W\LD HAVE EMBRAC$ H] BUT1 BLU%+1 %E /EPP$ ASIDE FE>+ TO BE 
 RUMPL$4 

0,MAMA1 Y\R CAP1 MORE TO ?IS SIDE10 SAID ,NATA%A4 0,I'LL >RANGE IT10 & 
 %E RU%$ =W>D SO ?AT ! MAIDS :O W]E TACK+ UP H] SKIRT C\LD 
 NOT MOVE FA/ 5\< & A PIECE ( GAUZE WAS TORN (F4 

0,OH GOODNESS6 ,:AT HAS HAPP5$8 ,REALLY IT WAS NOT MY FAULT60 

0,NEV] M9D1 ,I'LL RUN IT UP1 IT WON'T %[10 SAID ,DUNYA%A4 

0,:AT A BEAUTY--A V]Y QUE560 SAID ! NURSE AS %E CAME TO ! 
 DOOR4 0,& ,SONYA6 ,!Y >E LOVELY60 

,AT A QU>T] PA/ T5 !Y AT LA/ GOT 9TO !IR C>RIAGES & />T$4 
 ,BUT !Y HAD /ILL TO CALL AT ! ,TAURIDA ,G>D5S4 

,P]ONSKAYA WAS QUITE READY4 ,9 SPITE ( H] AGE & PLA9NESS %E HAD GONE 
 ?R\< ! SAME PROCESS AS ! ,RO/OVS1 BUT ) LESS FLURRY--= TO 
 H] IT WAS A MATT] ( R\T9E4 ,H] UGLY OLD BODY WAS WA%$1 P]FUM$1 
 & P[D]$ 9 JU/ ! SAME WAY4 ,%E HAD WA%$ BEH9D H] E>S JU/ AS 
 C>EFULLY1 & :5 %E 5T]$ H] DRAW+ ROOM 9 H] YELL[ DRESS1 
 WE>+ H] BADGE AS MAID ( HONOR1 H] OLD LADY'S MAID WAS AS FULL ( 
 RAPTUR\S ADMIRATION AS ! ,RO/OVS' S]VANTS HAD BE54 

,%E PRAIS$ ! ,RO/OVS' TOILETS4 ,!Y PRAIS$ H] TA/E & TOILET1 & 
 AT ELEV5 O'CLOCK1 C>EFUL ( !IR COIFFURES & DRESSES1 !Y SETTL$ 
 !MSELVES 9 !IR C>RIAGES & DROVE (F4 

,FROM 3 ,GUT5B]G4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,NOVEMB] #c1 #ahfh 3 ,BOOK #f1 ,*APT] #ad -- ,PUBLICATION4 
,FEBRU>Y #a#a1 #bag 3 ,BOOK #f1 ,*APT] #ad -- ,ADD$4 

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