Pagina 607 di 2288

"Yes, yes. She came to the rescue before anyone; she took the man

by the arm and led him away."

"There, mamma," said Kitty; "you wonder that I'm enthusiastic

about her."

The next day, as she watched her unknown friend, Kitty noticed

that Mademoiselle Varenka was already on the same terms with

Levin and his companion as with her other proteges. She went up

to them, entered into conversation with them, and served as

interpreter for the woman, who could not speak any foreign

language.

Kitty began to entreat her mother still more urgently to let her

make friends with Varenka. And, disagreeable as it was to the

princess to seem to take the first step in wishing to make the

acquaintance of Madame Stahl, who thought fit to give herself

airs, she made inquiries about Varenka, and, having ascertained

particulars about her tending to prove that there could be no

harm though little good in the acquaintance, she herself

approached Varenka and made acquaintance with her.