âIâm heartily glad you have come and are staying with me. It was high time,â she said, giving NatĂĄsha a significant look. âThe old man is here and his sonâs expected any day. Youâll have to make his acquaintance. But weâll speak of that later on,â she added, glancing at SĂłnya with a look that showed she did not want to speak of it in her presence. âNow listen,â she said to the count. âWhat do you want tomorrow? Whom will you send for? ShinshĂn?â she crooked one of her fingers. âThe sniveling Anna MikhĂĄylovna? Thatâs two. Sheâs here with her son. The son is getting married! Then BezĂşkhov, eh? He is here too, with his wife. He ran away from her and she came galloping after him. He dined with me on Wednesday. As for themââ âand she pointed to the girlsâ ââtomorrow Iâll take them first to the Iberian shrine of the Mother of God, and then weâll drive to the Super-Rogueâs. I suppose youâll have everything new. Donât judge by me: sleeves nowadays are this size! The other day young Princess IrĂna VasĂlevna came to see me; she was an awful sightâ âlooked as if she had put two barrels on her arms. You know not a day passes now without some new fashion.â ââ ⌠And what have you to do yourself?â she asked the count sternly.
1746