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"Why, are there balls where one always enjoys oneself?" Anna

said, with tender irony.

"It's strange, but there are. At the Bobrishtchevs' one always

enjoys oneself, and at the Nikitins' too, while at the Mezhkovs'

it's always dull. Haven't you noticed it?"

"No, my dear, for me there are no balls now where one enjoys

oneself," said Anna, and Kitty detected in her eyes that

mysterious world which was not open to her. "For me there are

some less dull and tiresome."

"How can you be dull at a ball?"

"Why should not I be dull at a ball?" inquired Anna.

Kitty perceived that Anna knew what answer would follow.

"Because you always look nicer than anyone."

Anna had the faculty of blushing. She blushed a little, and said:

"In the first place it's never so; and secondly, if it were, what

difference would it make to me?"

"Are you coming to this ball?" asked Kitty.