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The whole evening and the following day I spent in a sort of dejected apathy I remember I tried to work and took up Keidanov, but the boldly printed lines and pages of the famous text-book passed before my eyes in vain I read ten tiuished by warlike courage' I did not understand anything and threw the book aside Before dinner-time I pomaded myself once more, and once more put on my tail-coat and necktie

'What's that for?' my mother demanded 'You're not a student yet, and God knohether you'll get through the exa had a new jacket! You can't throw it away!'

'There will be visitors,' I murmured almost in despair

'What nonsense! fine visitors indeed!'

I had to subed my tail-coat for my jacket, but I did not take off the necktie The princess and her daughter made their appearance half an hour before dinner-tireen dress hich I was already acquainted, a yellol, and an old-fashioned cap adorned with fla at once about herof her poverty, and i assistance, but she eted and lolled about in her chair as freely as ever It never seemed to have struck her that she was a princess Zina&iuhty in her demeanour, every inch a princess There was a cold inised it; I should not have known her sht her exquisite in this new aspect too She wore a light barége dress with pale blue flowers on it; her hair fell in long curls down her cheek in the English fashion; this style ith the cold expression of her face My father sat beside her during dinner, and entertained his neighbour with the finished and serene courtesy peculiar to hilanced at hiely, almost with hostility Their conversation was carried on in French; I was surprised, I remember, at the purity of Zinaïda's accent The princess, while ere at table, as before reat deal, and praised the dishes My mother was obviously bored by her, and answered her with a sort of weary indifference; my father faintly frowned now and then My mother did not like Zinaïda either 'A conceited minx,' she said next day 'And fancy, what she has to be conceited about, avec sa risette!'