him, even if such a meeting should be by
appointment?

"Don't suppose, prince," she began, bracing herself up for the effort,
"don't suppose that I have brought you here to ask questions. After last
night, I assure you, I am not so exceedingly anxious to see you at all;
I could have postponed the pleasure for a long while." She paused.

"But at the same time you would be very glad to know how I happened to
meet Aglaya Ivanovna this morning?" The prince finished her speech for
her with the utmost composure.

"Well, what then? Supposing I should like to know?" cried Lizabetha
Prokofievna, blushing. "I'm sure I am not afraid of plain speaking. I'm
not offending anyone, and I never wish to, and--"

"Pardon me, it is no offence to wish to know this; you are her
mother. We met at the green bench this morning, punctually at seven
o'clock,--according to an agreement made by Aglaya Ivanovna with myself
yesterday. She said that she wished to see me and speak to me about
something important. We met and conversed for an hour about matters
concerning Aglaya Ivanovna herself, and that's all."

"Of course it is all, my friend. I don't doubt you for a moment," said
Lizabetha Prokofievna with dignity.

"Well done, prince, capital!" cried Aglaya, who entered the room at
this moment. "Thank you for assuming that I would not demean myself
with lies. Come, is that enough, mamma, or do you intend to put any more
questions?"

"You know I have never needed to blush before you, up to this day,
though perhaps you would have been glad enough to make me," said
Lizabetha Prokofievna,--with majesty. "Good-bye, prince; forgive me for
bothering you. I trust you will rest assured of my unalterable esteem
for you."

The prince made his bows and retired at once. Alexandra and Adelaida
smiled and whispered to each other, while Lizabetha Prokofievna glared
severely at them. "We are only laughing at the prince's beautiful bows,
mamma," said Adelaida. "Sometimes he bows just like a meal-sack, but
to-day he was like--like Evgenie Pavlovitch!"

"It is the HEART which is the best teacher of refinement and dignity,
not the dancing-master," said her mother, sententiously, and departed
upstairs to her own room, not so much as glancing at Aglaya.

When the prince reached home, about nine o'clock, he found Vera Lebedeff
and the maid on the verandah. They were both busy trying to tidy up the
place after last night's disorderly party.

"Thank goodness, w