Chapter 16

           

           Suddenlyeverybodystirred,begantalking,andpressedforwardandthenback,andbetweenthetworows,whichseparated,theEmperorenteredtothesoundsofmusicthathadimmediatelystruckup.Behindhimwalkedhishostandhostess.Hewalkedinrapidly,bowingtorightandleftasifanxioustogetthefirstmomentsofthereceptionover.Thebandplayedthepolonaiseinvogueatthattimeonaccountofthewordsthathadbeensettoit,beginning:“Alexander,Elisaveta,allourheartsyouravishquite...”TheEmperorpassedontothedrawingroom,thecrowdmadearushforthedoors,andseveralpersonswithexcitedfaceshurriedthereandbackagain.Thenthecrowdhastilyretiredfromthedrawingroomdoor,atwhichtheEmperorreappearedtalkingtothehostess.Ayoungman,lookingdistraught,pounceddownontheladies,askingthemtomoveaside.Someladies,withfacesbetrayingcompleteforgetfulnessofalltherulesofdecorum,pushedforwardtothedetrimentoftheirtoilets.Themenbegantochoosepartnersandtaketheirplacesforthepolonaise.

           Everyonemovedback,andtheEmperorcamesmilingoutofthedrawingroomleadinghishostessbythehandbutnotkeepingtimetothemusic.ThehostfollowedwithMáryaAntónovnaNarýshkina;thencameambassadors,ministers,andvariousgenerals,whomPerónskayadiligentlynamed.Morethanhalftheladiesalreadyhadpartnersandweretakingup,orpreparingtotakeup,theirpositionsforthepolonaise.NatáshafeltthatshewouldbeleftwithhermotherandSónyaamongaminorityofwomenwhocrowdednearthewall,nothavingbeeninvitedtodance.

Содержание книги
Настройки
Фон страницы
Размер шрифта
Межстрочный интервал
Фразовые глаголы
Показать / Скрыть меню
Шрифт
Roboto Lora
Уведомления
Страница 828 из 2250