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The greater number of the young women, who envied Anna and had

long been weary of hearing her called virtuous, rejoiced at the

fulfillment of their predictions, and were only waiting for a

decisive turn in public opinion to fall upon her with all the

weight of their scorn. They were already making ready their

handfuls of mud to fling at her when the right moment arrived.

The greater number of the middle-aged people and certain great

personages were displeased at the prospect of the impending

scandal in society.