As a matter of fact Vera was very angry indeed. Constantine had returned to her shy and shamefaced.
"Well—is he coming? What did he say?" she had asked.
"His vanity is terrible," said Constantine, "and his manners are even worse."
"How—what do you mean—does he recognise me and refuse to renew our acquaintance?"
"Oh no, he did not suspect who you were. He said you were a mere child and hinted that he had no time to waste upon children."
"Children!" repeated Vera indignantly; "and I in my seventeenth year! Bah—he has, as you say, no manners. So he has refused to be presented."
"Not quite that! 'I will come, if I can, later,' he said; I think he is much absorbed, at present, by the lady at his side; it is a different one, with him, every month."
"I will wait for half an hour, and then, if he comes not, you shall take me away, Constantine," said Vera; and though the lad at her side protested against her doing Maximof so much honour, she insisted upon staying.
Presently, however, seeing that Sasha showed signs of crossing the room in order to approach her, she said quickly:—
"See, Constantine, now he comes; when it is quite clear that his intention is to speak to me, I will rise and you shall give me your hand to escort me away!"