Chapter 16

           

           Suddenlyeverybodystirred,begantalking,andpressedforwardandthenback,andbetweenthetworows,whichseparated,theEmperorenteredtothesoundsofmusicthathadimmediatelystruckup.Behindhimwalkedhishostandhostess.Hewalkedinrapidly,bowingtorightandleftasifanxioustogetthefirstmomentsofthereceptionover.Thebandplayedthepolonaiseinvogueatthattimeonaccountofthewordsthathadbeensettoit,beginning:“Alexander,Elisaveta,allourheartsyouravishquite...”TheEmperorpassedontothedrawingroom,thecrowdmadearushforthedoors,andseveralpersonswithexcitedfaceshurriedthereandbackagain.Thenthecrowdhastilyretiredfromthedrawingroomdoor,atwhichtheEmperorreappearedtalkingtothehostess.Ayoungman,lookingdistraught,pounceddownontheladies,askingthemtomoveaside.Someladies,withfacesbetrayingcompleteforgetfulnessofalltherulesofdecorum,pushedforwardtothedetrimentoftheirtoilets.Themenbegantochoosepartnersandtaketheirplacesforthepolonaise.

           Everyonemovedback,andtheEmperorcamesmilingoutofthedrawingroomleadinghishostessbythehandbutnotkeepingtimetothemusic.ThehostfollowedwithMáryaAntónovnaNarýshkina;thencameambassadors,ministers,andvariousgenerals,whomPerónskayadiligentlynamed.Morethanhalftheladiesalreadyhadpartnersandweretakingup,orpreparingtotakeup,theirpositionsforthepolonaise.NatáshafeltthatshewouldbeleftwithhermotherandSónyaamongaminorityofwomenwhocrowdednearthewall,nothavingbeeninvitedtodance.

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