It occurred to Orlov that the breeze he had longed for earlier would prove a mixed blessing if it ever arrived, unless it brought some rain to lay the dust. He drew out his watch to confirm his feeling that the afternoon was well advanced and found that he had correctly estimated that they had be...
There were also complaints that, with the Emperor away, there would be no ball at the Palace. The remaining days before the festival passed very quickly, for there was much to do. Nadya and Irina confided to one another their amazement at the calm efficiency with which Tatya ran this great house,...