Chapter 2

           Ontheterracewereassembledalltheladiesoftheparty.Theyalwayslikedsittingthereafterdinner,andthatdaytheyhadworktodotheretoo.Besidesthesewingandknittingofbabyclothes,withwhichallofthemwerebusy,thatafternoonjamwasbeingmadeontheterracebyamethodnewtoAgafeaMihalovna,withouttheadditionofwater.Kittyhadintroducedthisnewmethod,whichhadbeeninuseinherhome.AgafeaMihalovna,towhomthetaskofjam-makinghadalwaysbeenintrusted,consideringthatwhathadbeendoneintheLevinhouseholdcouldnotbeamiss,hadneverthelessputwaterwiththestrawberries,maintainingthatthejamcouldnotbemadewithoutit.Shehadbeencaughtintheact,andwasnowmakingjambeforeeveryone,anditwastobeprovedtoherconclusivelythatjamcouldbeverywellmadewithoutwater.

           AgafeaMihalovna,herfaceheatedandangry,herhairuntidy,andherthinarmsbaretotheelbows,wasturningthepreserving-panoverthecharcoalstove,lookingdarklyattheraspberriesanddevoutlyhopingtheywouldstickandnotcookproperly.Theprincess,consciousthatAgafeaMihalovna’swrathmustbechieflydirectedagainsther,asthepersonresponsiblefortheraspberryjam-making,triedtoappeartobeabsorbedinotherthingsandnotinterestedinthejam,talkedofothermatters,butcaststealthyglancesinthedirectionofthestove.

           “Ialwaysbuymymaids’dressesmyself,ofsomecheapmaterial,”theprincesssaid,continuingthepreviousconversation.“Isn’tittimetoskimit,mydear?”sheadded,addressingAgafeaMihalovna.