she too
turned as white as a sheet, and then reddened to her temples. Truly the
Grandmother's arrival seemed to be a catastrophe for everybody! For my
own part, I stood looking from the Grandmother to the company, and back
again, while Mr. Astley, as usual, remained in the background, and
gazed calmly and decorously at the scene.

"Well, here I am--and instead of a telegram, too!" the Grandmother at
last ejaculated, to dissipate the silence. "What? You were not
expecting me?"

"Antonida Vassilievna! O my dearest mother! But how on earth did you,
did you--?" The mutterings of the unhappy General died away.

I verily believe that if the Grandmother had held her tongue a few
seconds longer she would have had a stroke.

"How on earth did I WHAT?" she exclaimed. "Why, I just got into the
train and came here. What else is the railway meant for? But you
thought that I had turned up my toes and left my property to the lot of
you. Oh, I know ALL about the telegrams which you have been
dispatching. They must have cost you a pretty sum, I should think, for
telegrams are not sent from abroad for nothing. Well, I picked up my
heels, and came here. Who is this Frenchman? Monsieur de Griers, I
suppose?"

"Oui, madame," assented De Griers. "Et, croyez, je suis si enchante!
Votre sante--c'est un miracle vous voir ici. Une surprise charmante!"

"Just so. 'Charmante!' I happen to know you as a mountebank, and
therefore trust you no more than THIS." She indicated her little
finger. "And who is THAT?" she went on, turning towards Mlle. Blanche.
Evidently the Frenchwoman looked so becoming in her riding-habit, with
her whip in her hand, that she had made an impression upon the old
lady. "Who is that woman there?"

"Mlle. de Cominges," I said. "And this is her mother, Madame de
Cominges. They also are staying in the hotel."

"Is the daughter married?" asked the old lady, without the least
semblance of ceremony.

"No," I replied as respectfully as possible, but under my breath.

"Is she good company?"

I failed to understand the question.

"I mean, is she or is she not a bore? Can she speak Russian? When this
De Griers was in Moscow he soon learnt to make himself understood."

I explained to the old lady that Mlle. Blanche had never visited Russia.

"Bonjour, then," said Madame, with sudden brusquerie.

"Bonjour, madame," replied Mlle. Blanche with an elegant, ceremonious
bow as, under cover of an unwonted modesty, she ende