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They went up to the door of the sitting room from which came the

sound of the oft-repeated passage of the sonata. Prince Andrew

stopped and made a grimace, as if expecting something unpleasant.

The little princess entered the room. The passage broke off in

the middle, a cry was heard, then Princess Mary's heavy tread and

the sound of kissing. When Prince Andrew went in the two

princesses, who had only met once before for a short time at his

wedding, were in each other's arms warmly pressing their lips to

whatever place they happened to touch. Mademoiselle Bourienne

stood near them pressing her hand to her heart, with a beatific

smile and obviously equally ready to cry or to laugh. Prince

Andrew shrugged his shoulders and frowned, as lovers of music do

when they hear a false note. The two women let go of one another,

and then, as if afraid of being too late, seized each other's

hands, kissing them and pulling them away, and again began

kissing each other on the face, and then to Prince Andrew's

surprise both began to cry and kissed again. Mademoiselle

Bourienne also began to cry.