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The maid, who had been listening at her door for a long while,

came into her room of her own accord. Anna glanced inquiringly

into her face, and blushed with a scared look. The maid begged

her pardon for coming in, saying that she had fancied the bell

rang. She brought her clothes and a note. The note was from

Betsy. Betsy reminded her that Liza Merkalova and Baroness

Shtoltz were coming to play croquet with her that morning with

their adorers, Kaluzhsky and old Stremov. "Come, if only as a

study in morals. I shall expect you," she finished.

Anna read the note and heaved a deep sigh.

"Nothing, I need nothing," she said to Annushka, who was

rearranging the bottles and brushes on the dressing table. "You

can go. I'll dress at once and come down. I need nothing."