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 knew it. There are looks, there are ways .... no, no! not if I lived a hundred years should I ever forget it."

"Now, what is it? I don't understand you. The question is solely this: do you love him now or not?"said Varenka, who liked to call things by their right names.

"I hate him. I cannot forgive myself."

"But what for?"

"The shame, the insult."

"Akh! if every one were as sensitive as you! There is never a young girl who does not sometimes feel the same way. It is all such a trifling thing!"

"But what, then, is important?" asked Kitty, looking at Varenka with astonishment and curiosity.

"Oh! many things are important," replied Varenka, with a smile.

"Yes; but what?"

"Oh! there are many things more important," replied Varenka, not knowing what to say; but at that moment the voice of the princess was heard from the window:—

"Kitty, it is getting cool; put on your shawl, or come in."

"It is time to go," said Varenka, getting up. "I must go and see Madame Berthe; she asked me to come."

Kitty held her by the hand, and her eyes, full of passionate, almost supplicating, curiosity, asked her:—

"What is it that is so important that can give such calm? You know; tell me."

But Varenka did not understand the meaning of Kitty's look. She remembered only that she had still to go to see Madame Berthe, and to get home at midnight for tea with maman. She went back to the room, picked up her music, and, having said good-night to all, started to go.

"Allow me; I will escort you," said the colonel.

"Certainly," said the princess. "How could you go home alone at night? I was going to send Parasha with you."