And she was not a girl who had gone the stale round of balls till every face in the ballroom was familiar and tiresome.

But she was in the middle stage between these two; she was excited, and at the same time she had sufficient self-possession to be able to observe.

In the left corner of the ballroom she saw the cream of society gathered together.

There--incredibly naked--was the beauty Lidi, Korsunsky's wife; there was the lady of the house; there shone the bald head of Krivin, always to be found where the best people were.

In that direction gazed the young men, not venturing to approach.