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But at that very moment the princess came in. There was a look of

horror on her face when she saw them alone, and their disturbed

faces. Levin bowed to her, and said nothing. Kitty did not speak

nor lift her eyes. "Thank God, she has refused him," thought the

mother, and her face lighted up with the habitual smile with

which she greeted her guests on Thursdays. She sat down and began

questioning Levin about his life in the country. He sat down

again, waiting for other visitors to arrive, in order to retreat

unnoticed.

Five minutes later there came in a friend of Kitty's, married the

preceding winter, Countess Nordston.