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RECOLLECTIONS OF CHILDHOOD 115
Forgetting her new dignity as a Russian authoress,
forgetting how little resemblance these red,
perspiring young officers bore to the ideal men of whom she
dreamed, she flitted about before them, smiling at
each and all, and enjoying the conviction that she
was turning the heads of all.
They were only waiting for my father’s appearance
to begin dancing. All at once a servant entered the
room, and approaching mama, said to her: " His
Excellency is ill. He begs you to come to his study."
Every one felt alarmed. Mama rose hastily, and
holding up the train of her heavy silk gown with her
hand, she left the hall.
The musicians, who were in the next room awaiting
the signal agreed upon to begin a quadrille, were
told to wait.
Half an hour elapsed. The guests began to feel
Tineasy. At last mama returned; her face was red
and troubled, but she tried to appear composed, and
smiled in a forced, constrained way. To the anxious
inquiries of the guests, " What is the matter with the
General!" she replied evasively:’ "Yasily
Vasilie-vitch does not feel quite well; he begs that you will
excuse him and begin the dances without him."
Every one observed that something had gone wrong,
but out of courtesy no one insisted further; moreover,
every one wished to get to dancing as soon as
possible, since they had assembled and dressed themselves
for that purpose. So the dancing began.
As Aniuta passed mother in a figure of the
quadrille, she looked into her eyes, and read in them that
something disagreeable had taken place. Taking
advantage of a pause between two dances, she took
mama aside and pressed her with questions.
" What have you done ? All is discovered! Papa
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