`Whoisit？’sheaskedherself。`All-orone？’Andwithoutkeepingupherendoftheconversation，thethreadofwhichtheharassedyoungmanshewasdancingwithlostandcouldnotpickupagain，sheobeyedwithexternallivelinesstheperemptoryshoutsofKorsunskystartingthemallintothegrandrond，andthenintothechaine，andatthesametimeshekeptwatchwithagrowingpangatherheart。`No，it’snotadmirationofthecrowdthathasintoxicatedher，buttheadorationofone。Andthatone？Canitbehe？’EverytimehespoketoAnnathejoyouslightflashedintohereyes，andthesmileofhappinesscurvedherredlips。Sheseemedtomakeanefforttocontrolherself，inordernottoshowthesesignsofdelight，buttheyappearedonherfaceofthemselves。
`Butwhatofhim？’Kittylookedathimandwashorrified。WhatwaspicturedsoclearlytoKittyinthemirrorofAnna’sfaceshesawinhim。Whathadbecomeofhisalwayscalm，firmmanner，andthecarelesslycalmexpressionofhisface？Noweverytimeheturnedtoherhebenthishead，asthoughhewouldhavefallenatherfeet，andinhiseyestherewasnothingbuthumblesubmissionanddread。`Iwouldnotoffendyou，’hiseyesseemedtobesayingeachtime，`butIwanttosavemyself，andIdon’tknowhow。’
OnhisfacewasalooksuchasKittyhadneverseenbefore。
Theywerespeakingofcommonacquaintances，keepingupthesmallestofsmalltalk，buttoKittyitseemedthateverywordtheysaidwasdeterminingtheirfateandhers。Andstrangelyenough，althoughtheywereactuallytalkingofhowabsurdIvanIvanovichwaswithhisFrench，andhowtheEletskygirlmighthavemadeabettermatch，thesewordswereyetfraughtwithsignificanceforthem，andtheysensedthisasmuchasKittydid。Thewholeball，thewholeworld，everythingseemedscreenedbyafogwithinKitty’ssoul。Nothingbutthesterndisciplineofherbringing-upsupportedherandforcedhertodowhatwasexpectedofher-thatis，todance，toanswerquestions，totalk，eventosmile。Butbeforethemazurka，whentheywerebeginningtorearrangethechairsandafewcouplesmovedoutofthesmallerroomsintothebigroom，amomentofdespairandhorrorcameforKitty。
Shehadrefusedfivepartners，andnowshewasnotdancingthemazurka。