" And Sonya! They are lovely!" At a quarter past ten they at last got into their carriages and started.

But they had still to call at the Taurida Gardens.

Peronskaya was quite ready.

In spite of her age and plainness she had gone through the same process as the Rostovs, but with less flurry--for to her it was a matter of routine.

Her ugly old body was washed, perfumed, and powdered in just the same way.