Chapter 9

           Silenceimmediatelyfellontheroom;alllookedattheprinceasthoughtheyneitherunderstood,norhopedtounderstand.Ganiawasmotionlesswithhorror.

           Nastasia’sarrivalwasamostunexpectedandoverwhelmingeventtoallparties.Inthefirstplace,shehadneverbeenbefore.UptonowshehadbeensohaughtythatshehadneverevenaskedGaniatointroducehertohisparents.Oflateshehadnotsomuchasmentionedthem.Ganiawaspartlygladofthis;butstillhehadputittoherdebitintheaccounttobesettledaftermarriage.

           Hewouldhaveborneanythingfromherratherthanthisvisit.Butonethingseemedtohimquiteclear—hervisitnow,andthepresentofherportraitonthisparticularday,pointedoutplainlyenoughwhichwaysheintendedtomakeherdecision!

           Theincredulousamazementwithwhichallregardedtheprincedidnotlastlong,forNastasiaherselfappearedatthedoorandpassedin,pushingbytheprinceagain.

           “AtlastI’vestormedthecitadel!Whydoyoutieupyourbell?”shesaid,merrily,asshepressedGania’shand,thelatterhavingrusheduptoherassoonasshemadeherappearance.“Whatareyoulookingsoupsetabout?Introduceme,please!”

           ThebewilderedGaniaintroducedherfirsttoVaria,andbothwomen,beforeshakinghands,exchangedlooksofstrangeimport.Nastasia,however,smiledamiably;butVariadidnottrytolookamiable,andkepthergloomyexpression.Shedidnotevenvouchsafetheusualcourteoussmileofetiquette.