e street. Forgetting their morning
_deshabille_ and general untidiness, they rushed breathless with
excitement to meet the regiment, and listened greedily to the band
playing the march. Looking at their pale, ecstatic faces, one might
have thought those strains came from some heavenly choir rather
than from a military brass band.

"The regiment!" they cried joyfully. "The regiment is coming!"

What could this unknown regiment that came by chance to-day and
would depart at dawn to-morrow mean to them?

Afterwards, when the officers were standing in the middle of the
square, and, with their hands behind them, discussing the question
of billets, all the ladies were gathered together at the examining
magistrate's and vying with one another in their criticisms of the
regiment. They already knew, goodness knows how, that the colonel
was married, but not living with his wife; that the senior officer's
wife had a baby born dead every year; that the adjutant was hopelessly
in love with some countess, and had even once attempted suicide.
They knew everything. When a pock-marked soldier in a red shirt
darted past the windows, they knew for certain that it was Lieutenant
Rymzov's orderly running about the town, trying to get some English
bitter ale on tick for his master. They had only caught a passing
glimpse of the officers' backs, but had already decided that there
was not one handsome or interesting man among them. . . . Having
talked to their hearts' content, they sent for the Military Commandant
and the committee of the club, and instructed them at all costs to
make arrangements for a dance.

Their wishes were carried out. At nine o'clock in the evening the
military band was playing in the street before the club, while in
the club itself the officers were dancing with the ladies of K----.
The ladies felt as though they were on wings. Intoxicated by the
dancing, the music, and the clank of spurs, they threw themselves
heart and soul into making the acquaintance of their new partners,
and quite forgot their old civilian friends. Their fathers and
husbands, forced temporarily into the background, crowded round the
meagre refreshment table in the entrance hall. All these government
cashiers, secretaries, clerks, and superintendents--stale,
sickly-looking, clumsy figures--were perfectly well aware of their
inferiority. They did not even enter the ball-room, but contented
themselves with watching their wives and daughters in t