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"We expected you yesterday, princess," he said to Kitty. He

staggered as he said this, and then repeated the motion, trying

to make it seem as if it had been intentional.

"I meant to come, but Varenka said that Anna Pavlovna sent word

you were not going."

"Not going!" said Petrov, blushing, and immediately beginning to

cough, and his eyes sought his wife. "Anita! Anita!" he said

loudly, and the swollen veins stood out like cords on his thin

white neck.

Anna Pavlovna came up.

"So you sent word to the princess that we weren't going!" he

whispered to her angrily, losing his voice.

"Good morning, princess," said Anna Pavlovna, with an assumed

smile utterly unlike her former manner. "Very glad to make your

acquaintance," she said to the prince. "You've long been

expected, prince."