"Ah, princess! that was something like!" said Stepan Arkadyevitch, suddenly appearing in the middle of the crowd and beaming upon them with a delighted smile.

" Capitally, warmly said, wasn't it? Bravo! And Sergey Ivanovitch! Why, you ought to have said something--just a few words, you know, to encourage them; you do that so well," he added with a soft, respectful, and discreet smile, moving Sergey Ivanovitch forward a little by the arm.

"No, I'm just off.

" "Where to?" "To the country, to my brother's," answered Sergey Ivanovitch.

"Then you'll see my wife.