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Anna Mikhaylovna was already embracing her and weeping. The

countess wept too. They wept because they were friends, and

because they were kindhearted, and because they-friends from

childhood-had to think about such a base thing as money, and

because their youth was over.... But those tears were pleasant to

them both.

CHAPTER XVIII

Countess Rostova, with her daughters and a large number of

guests, was already seated in the drawing room. The count took

the gentlemen into his study and showed them his choice

collection of Turkish pipes. From time to time he went out to

ask: "Hasn't she come yet?" They were expecting Marya Dmitrievna

Akhrosimova, known in society as le terrible dragon, a lady

distinguished not for wealth or rank, but for common sense and

frank plainness of speech. Marya Dmitrievna was known to the

Imperial family as well as to all Moscow and Petersburg, and both

cities wondered at her, laughed privately at her rudenesses, and

told good stories about her, while none the less all without

exception respected and feared her.