ly wag of the tail.

'Look here, Sasha,' cried Lezhnyov, from the distance, to his wife,
'whom I am bringing you.'

Alexandra Pavlovna did not at once recognise the man who was sitting
behind her husband's back.

'Ah! Mr. Bassistoff!' she cried at last

'It's he,' answered Lezhnyov; 'and he has brought such glorious news.
Wait a minute, you shall know directly.'

And he drove into the courtyard.

Some minutes later he came with Bassistoff into the balcony.

'Hurrah!' he cried, embracing his wife, 'Serezha is going to be
married.'

'To whom?' asked Alexandra Pavlovna, much agitated.

'To Natalya, of course. Our friend has brought the news from Moscow, and
there is a letter for you.'

'Do you hear, Misha,' he went on, snatching his son into his arms, 'your
uncle's going to be married? What criminal indifference! he only blinks
his eyes!'

'He is sleepy,' remarked the nurse.

'Yes,' said Bassistoff, going up to Alexandra Pavlovna, 'I have come
to-day from Moscow on business for Darya Mihailovna--to go over the
accounts on the estate. And here is the letter.'

Alexandra Pavlovna opened her brother's letter in haste. It consisted of
a few lines only. In the first transport of joy he informed his sister
that he had made Natalya an offer, and received her consent and Darya
Mihailovna's; and he promised to write more by the next post, and sent
embraces and kisses to all. It was clear he was writing in a state of
delirium.

Tea was served, Bassistoff sat down. Questions were showered upon him.
Every one, even Pigasov, was delighted at the news he had brought.

'Tell me, please,' said Lezhnyov among the rest, 'rumours reached us of
a certain Mr. Kortchagin. That was all nonsense, I suppose?'

Kortchagin was a handsome young man, a society lion, excessively
conceited and important; he behaved with extraordinary dignity, just
as if he had not been a living man, but his own statue set up by public
subscription.

'Well, no, not altogether nonsense,' replied Bassistoff with a smile;
'Darya Mihailovna was very favourable to him; but Natalya Alexyevna
would not even hear of him.'

'I know him,' put in Pigasov, 'he's a double dummy, a noisy dummy, if
you like! If all people were like that, it would need a large sum of
money to induce one to consent to live--upon my word!'

'Very likely,' answered Bassistoff; 'but he plays a leading part in
society.'

'Well, never mind him!' cried Alexandra Pavlovna. 'Peace be w