the balcony steps behind Volintsev and Natalya, '_quel dommage que ce
charmant garcon ait si peu de ressources dans la conversation_,' which
may be translated, 'you are a good fellow, my dear boy, but rather a
fool.'

The baron did not arrive to dinner. They waited half-an-hour for him.
Conversation flagged at the table. Sergei Pavlitch did nothing but
gaze at Natalya, near whom he was sitting, and zealously filled up her
glass with water. Pandalevsky tried in vain to entertain his
neighbour, Alexandra Pavlovna; he was bubbling over with sweetness,
but she hardly refrained from yawning.

Bassistoff was rolling up pellets of bread and thinking of nothing at
all; even Pigasov was silent, and when Darya Mihailovna remarked to
him that he had not been very polite to-day, he replied crossly, 'When
am I polite? that's not in my line;' and smiling grimly he added,
'have a little patience; I am only kvas, you know, _du simple_ Russian
kvas; but your Gentleman of the Bedchamber----'

'Bravo!' cried Darya Mihailovna, 'Pigasov is jealous, he is jealous
already!'

But Pigasov made her no rejoinder, and only gave her a rather cross
look.

Seven o'clock struck, and they were all assembled again in the
drawing-room.

'He is not coming, clearly,' said Darya Mihailovna.