as interesting, but brief. Ivan never knew how
it was that Nathalie was presently disappearing through a doorway on the
arm of this man; her much-abused bouquet, held by one ribbon in her
listless right hand, trailing eloquently upon the ground; while he,
furious, but still dizzy from unwonted emotion, stood facing his aunt.
When her cold look had become intolerable to him, she added to it her
voice; saying, in a tone he had never heard from her:

"It is a pity I am forced to understand that my daughter is not to be
trusted with her cousin, even for one hour,--in a royal palace!"

With this she would have turned away. But something in Ivan's eyes
stopped her, despite her justified anger.

"Mademoiselle Nathalie Alexeiovna is to be trusted with any one,
anywhere, for any length of time. But with no one could she ever be
safer than with me, madame!" he said, passionately.

"Ah! And your method of taking care of her, is to manage so that she
shall be criticised, commented on, laughed at by the entire court during
the first hour of the first evening of her appearance in the
world!--Were you not a baby, Ivan, I should think you either mad or
dishonorable!--As it is, I am glad to have discovered what you are so
soon; though it will take months to regain for my unfortunate daughter
the position she has lost through your preposterous behavior. I shall
take good care, however, that she never again endangers her reputation
by receiving any sort of attention from you, in any place, at home or
abroad.--You will do well not to offer it, Ivan Mikhailovitch; for I
cannot have my daughter's name linked with that of a Gregoriev!" With
which brutal thrust this great lady turned coolly away, leaving Ivan,
stuttering with rage, behind her.

* * * * *

Thus, upon the first possible occasion, did Ivan ruin his winter. Nor
can it be said that he had not brought his punishment upon his own head,
by conduct so recklessly inconsiderate, that, considering the custom of
his country, it could scarcely be called that of a gentleman. Madame
Dravikine had been justified in the first part of her reproof; though
nothing, probably, could have excused the bitter insult of her final
taunt. For that, indeed, holding, as it did, a reproof of her dead
sister, her conscience pricked her more than once. But it had no effect
on the chaperonage now imposed by her upon her hapless daughter. Never,
perhaps, was heavier price pai