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"Ah, my dear," said the countess, "my life is not all roses

either. Don't I know that at the rate we are living our means

won't last long? It's all the Club and his easygoing nature. Even

in the country do we get any rest? Theatricals, hunting, and

heaven knows what besides! But don't let's talk about me; tell me

how you managed everything. I often wonder at you, Annette-how at

your age you can rush off alone in a carriage to Moscow, to

Petersburg, to those ministers and great people, and know how to

deal with them all! It's quite astonishing. How did you get

things settled? I couldn't possibly do it."