"Akh! how unpleasant!" said the princess. "Well, how did it end?"
"Fortunately that .... that girl with a hat like a toadstool interfered. A Russian, it seems," said the colonel.
"Mademoiselle Varenka?" joyously exclaimed Kitty.
"Yes, yes! She went quicker than any one else, and took the gentleman by the arm, and led him off."
"There, mamma!" said Kitty, "and you wonder at my enthusiasm for Varenka!"
The next morning Kitty, watching her unknown friend, noticed that Mademoiselle Varenka had the same relations with Levin and Marya as with her other protégés: she joined them and talked with them, and acted as interpreter to the woman, who did not know any language besides her own.
Kitty again begged her mother even more urgently to let her become acquainted with Varenka; and though it was unpleasant to the princess to seem to be making advances to the haughty and exclusive Madame Stahl, she made some inquiries about Varenka, and learning enough to satisfy herself that there was no possible harm, though very little that was advantageous, in the proposed acquaintance, she went first to Varenka and introduced herself.
Choosing a time when Kitty was at the spring, and Varenka was opposite the baker's, the princess went up to her.
"Allow me to introduce myself," said she, with her dignified smile. " My daughter has taken a great fancy to you. But perhaps you do not know me. I...."
"It is more than reciprocal, princess," replied Varenka, quickly,
"What a good thing you did yesterday toward our wretched fellow-countryman," said the princess.
Varenka blushed.
"I do not remember," she replied. " I don't think I did anything."
"Yes, indeed! you saved this Levin from an unpleasant affair."
"Ah, yes! sa compagne called me, and I tried to calm
