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As the first quadrille had already been given to Vronsky, she had

to promise this youth the second. An officer, buttoning his

glove, stood aside in the doorway, and stroking his mustache,

admired rosy Kitty.

Although her dress, her coiffure, and all the preparations for

the ball had cost Kitty great trouble and consideration, at this

moment she walked into the ballroom in her elaborate tulle dress

over a pink slip as easily and simply as though all the rosettes

and lace, all the minute details of her attire, had not cost her

or her family a moment's attention, as though she had been born

in that tulle and lace, with her hair done up high on her head,

and a rose and two leaves on the top of it.

When, just before entering the ballroom, the princess, her

mother, tried to turn right side out of the ribbon of her sash,

Kitty had drawn back a little. She felt that everything must be

right of itself, and graceful, and nothing could need setting

straight.