"Whichishe? Which?" askedPetyainatearfulvoice, ofthosearoundhim, butnooneansweredhim, everybodywastooexcited; andPetya, fixingononeofthosefourmen, whomhecouldnotclearlyseeforthetearsofjoythatfilledhiseyes, concentratedallhisenthusiasmonhim—thoughithappenednottobetheEmperor—franticallyshouted "Hurrah!" andresolvedthattomorrow, comewhatmight, hewouldjointhearmy.
ThecrowdranaftertheEmperor, followedhimtothepalace, , andPetyahadnoteatenanythingandwasdrenchedwithperspiration, yethedidnotgohomebutstoodwiththatdiminishing, butstillconsiderable, crowdbeforethepalacewhiletheEmperordined—lookinginatthepalacewindows, expectingheknewnotwhat, andenvyingalikethenotableshesawarrivingattheentrancetodinewiththeEmperorandthecourtfootmenwhoservedattable, glimpsesofwhomcouldbeseenthroughthewindows.
WhiletheEmperorwasdining, Valuev, lookingoutofthewindow, said:
"ThepeoplearestillhopingtoseeYourMajestyagain."
Thedinnerwasnearlyover, andtheEmperor, munchingabiscuit, , withPetyaamongthem, rushedtowardthebalcony.
"Angel! Dearone! Hurrah! Father!..." criedthecrowd, andPetyawithit, andagainthewomenandmenofweakermold, Petyaamongthem, weptwithjoy.
AlargishpieceofthebiscuittheEmperorwasholdinginhishandbrokeoff, fellonthebalconyparapet, , whostoodnearest, 'seyesgrewbloodshot, andstillmoreexcitedbythedangerofbeingcrushed, , buthehadtohaveabiscuitfromtheTsar'; theoldwomandidnotconsiderherselfdefeatedthoughshewaslyingontheground—, seizedabiscuit, andasiffearingtobetoolate, againshouted "Hurrah!" withavoicealreadyhoarse.
TheEmperorwentin, andafterthatthegreaterpartofthecrowdbegantodisperse.
"There! Isaidifonlywewaited—andsoitwas!" wasbeingjoyfullysaidbyvariouspeople.
HappyasPetyawas, , butcalledonhisfriendObolenski, , CountIlyaRostov—thoughhehadnotyetquiteyielded—wenttoinquirehowhecouldarrangeforPetyatoservewheretherewouldbeleastdanger.
