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Anna Pavlovna's reception was in full swing. The spindles hummed

steadily and ceaselessly on all sides. With the exception of the

aunt, beside whom sat only one elderly lady, who with her thin

careworn face was rather out of place in this brilliant society,

the whole company had settled into three groups. One, chiefly

masculine, had formed round the abbe. Another, of young people,

was grouped round the beautiful Princess Helene, Prince Vasili's

daughter, and the little Princess Bolkonskaya, very pretty and

rosy, though rather too plump for her age. The third group was

gathered round Mortemart and Anna Pavlovna.