“A senator?”
“You see, they are convinced that a senator has been appointed to be governor here, and that you are being superseded from Petersburg. I’ve heard it from lots of people.”
“I’ve heard it too,” I put in.
“Who said so?” asked Yulia Mihailovna, flushing all over.
“You mean, who said so first? How can I tell? But there it is, people say so. Masses of people are saying so. They were saying so yesterday particularly. They are all very serious about it, though I can’t make it out. Of course the more intelligent and competent don’t talk, but even some of those listen.”
“How mean! And … how stupid!”
“Well, that’s just why you must make your appearance, to show these fools.”
“I confess I feel myself that it’s my duty, but … what if there’s another disgrace in store for us? What if people don’t come? No one will come, you know, no one!”
“How hot you are! They not come! What about the new clothes? What about the girls’ dresses? I give you up as a woman after that! Is that your knowledge of human nature?”
“The marshal’s wife won’t come, she won’t.”