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"I'm telling him to come to dinner. I've one lady extra to dinner

with me, and no man to take her in. Look what I've said, will

that persuade him? Excuse me, I must leave you for a minute.

Would you seal it up, please, and send it off?" she said from the

door; "I have to give some directions."

Without a moment's thought, Anna sat down to the table with

Betsy's letter, and, without reading it, wrote below: "It's

essential for me to see you. Come to the Vrede garden. I shall be

there at six o'clock." She sealed it up, and, Betsy coming back,

in her presence handed the note to be taken.

At tea, which was brought them on a little tea-table in the cool

little drawing-room, the cozy chat promised by Princess Tverskaya

before the arrival of her visitors really did come off between

the two women. They criticized the people they were expecting,

and the conversation fell upon Liza Merkalova.

"She's very sweet, and I always liked her," said Anna.