Chapter 35

           Theprincecommunicatedhisgoodhumortohisownfamilyandhisfriends,andeventotheGermanlandlordinwhoseroomstheShtcherbatskyswerestaying.

           OncomingbackwithKittyfromthesprings,theprince,whohadaskedthecolonel,andMaryaYevgenyevna,andVarenkaalltocomeandhavecoffeewiththem,gaveordersforatableandchairstobetakenintothegardenunderthechestnuttree,andlunchtobelaidthere.Thelandlordandtheservants,too,grewbriskerundertheinfluenceofhisgoodspirits.Theyknewhisopen-handedness;andhalfanhourlatertheinvaliddoctorfromHamburg,wholivedonthetopfloor,lookedenviouslyoutofthewindowatthemerrypartyofhealthyRussiansassembledunderthechestnuttree.Inthetremblingcirclesofshadowcastbytheleaves,atatable,coveredwithawhitecloth,andsetwithcoffeepot,bread-and-butter,cheese,andcoldgame,sattheprincessinahighcapwithlilacribbons,distributingcupsandbread-and-butter.Attheotherendsattheprince,eatingheartily,andtalkingloudlyandmerrily.Theprincehadspreadoutnearhimhispurchases,carvedboxes,andknick-knacks,paper-knivesofallsorts,ofwhichheboughtaheapateverywatering-place,andbestowedthemuponeveryone,includingLieschen,theservantgirl,andthelandlord,withwhomhejestedinhiscomicallybadGerman,assuringhimthatitwasnotthewaterhadcuredKitty,buthissplendidcookery,especiallyhisplumsoup.TheprincesslaughedatherhusbandforhisRussianways,butshewasmorelivelyandgood-humoredthanshehadbeenallthewhileshehadbeenatthewaters.