expression of pleasure again dawned on his face, and doubled the
delighted attention of the whole party."

At length the dreaded guest arrived.

"Evil days had fallen on Obrazétz and his family. He seemed himself
as though he had lost his wife and son a second time. Khabár raged
and stormed like a mountain torrent. Anastasia, hearing the horrible
stories--is sometimes trembling like an aspen-leaf, and then weeps
like a fountain. She dares not even look forth out of the sliding
window of her bower. Why did Vassílii Féodorovitch build such a fine
house? Why did he build it so near the Great Prince's palace? 'Tis
clear, this was a temptation of the Evil One. He wanted, forsooth, to
boast of a nonsuch! He had sinned in his pride.... What would become
of him, his son and daughter! Better for them had they never been
born!... And all this affliction arose from the boyárin being about
to receive a German in his house!"

The voévoda gave strict injunctions that none of his family should go to
meet the procession; but M. Lajétchnikoff knows that all such orders are
unavailing.

"Curiosity is so strong in human nature, that it can conquer even
fear: notwithstanding the orders of the boyárin, all his servants
rushed to obtain a glance at the terrible stranger; one at the gate,
another through the crevices of the wooden fence, another over it.
Khabár, with his arms haughtily a-kimbo, gazed with stern pride from
the other gate. Now for the frightful face with mouse's ears, winking
owlish eyes streaming with fiendish fire! now for the beak! They
beheld a young man, tall, graceful, of noble deportment, overflowing