“Dear me! there’s no recognizing them! And Natásha! See whom she looks like! She really reminds me of somebody. But Eduárd Karlých⁠—isn’t he good! I didn’t know him! And how he dances. Dear me, there’s a Circassian. Really, how becoming it is to dear Sonyúshka. And who is that? Well, you have cheered us up! Nikíta and Vanya⁠—clear away the tables! And we were sitting so quietly. Ha, ha, ha!⁠ ⁠… The hussar, the hussar! Just like a boy! And the legs!⁠ ⁠… I can’t look at him⁠ ⁠…” different voices were saying.

Natásha, the young Melyukóvs’ favorite, disappeared with them into the back rooms where a cork and various dressing gowns and male garments were called for and received from the footman by bare girlish arms from behind the door. Ten minutes later, all the young Melyukóvs joined the mummers.