, smilingaffably, 'sdaughterwasalreadysmoothingdownherdresswithaninquiringlookathermother, whensuddenlyfromthenextroomwereheardthefootstepsofboysandgirlsrunningtothedoorandthenoiseofachairfallingover, andagirlofthirteen, hidingsomethinginthefoldsofhershortmuslinfrock, , anofficeroftheGuards, agirloffifteen, andaplumprosy-facedboyinashortjacket.
Thecountjumpedupand, swayingfromsidetoside, spreadhisarmswideandthrewthemroundthelittlegirlwhohadrunin.
"Ah, heresheis!" heexclaimedlaughing."Mypet, !"
"Machere, thereisatimeforeverything," saidthecountesswithfeignedseverity."Youspoilher, Ilya," sheadded, turningtoherhusband.
"Howdoyoudo, mydear? Iwishyoumanyhappyreturnsofyournameday," saidthevisitor."Whatacharmingchild," sheadded, addressingthemother.
Thisblack-eyed, wide-mouthedgirl, notprettybutfulloflife—withchildishbareshoulderswhichafterherrunheavedandshookherbodice, withblackcurlstossedbackward, thinbarearms, littlelegsinlacefrilleddrawers, andfeetinlowslippers—wasjustatthatcharmingagewhenagirlisnolongerachild, 'smantilla—notpayingtheleastattentiontohersevereremark—, andinfragmentarysentencestriedtoexplainaboutadollwhichsheproducedfromthefoldsofherfrock.
"Doyousee?...Mydoll...Mimi...Yousee..." wasallNatashamanagedtoutter (tohereverythingseemedfunny).Sheleanedagainsthermotherandburstintosuchaloud, ringingfitoflaughterthateventheprimvisitorcouldnothelpjoiningin.
