“Do not be vexed; he means nothing by it, but is in reality a decent old gentleman.”
“Please let me go. I will come again and see you when he is not here,” she said as she left the house in tears.
In the room she had left everyone was in gay humour, and Niel Andreevich condescended to share the general laughter, in which however, neither Raisky nor Vera joined. Paulina Karpovna might be eccentric, but that did not excuse either the loonish amusement of the people assembled or the old man’s attacks. Raisky remained gloomily silent, and shifted his feet ominously.
“She is offended and has departed,” remarked Niel Andreevich, as Tatiana Markovna, visibly agitated returned, and resumed her seat in silence. “It won’t do her any harm, but will be good for her health. She shouldn’t appear naked in society. This is not a bathing establishment.”
At this point the ladies lowered their eyes, and the young girls grew crimson, and pressed their hands nervously together.
“Neither should she stare about her in church and have young men following her footsteps. Come, Ivan Ivanovich, you were once her indefatigable cavalier. Do you still visit her?” he asked a young man severely.
“Not for a long time, your Excellency. I got tired of forever exchanging compliments.”
“It’s a good thing you have given it up. What an example she sets to women and young girls, going about dressed in pink with ribbons and frills, when she is over forty. How can anybody help reading her a lecture? You see,” he added turning to Raisky, “that I am only a terror to evildoers. Who has made you fear me?”
“Mark,” answered Raisky, to the excitement of all present.
“What Mark?” asked Niel Andreevich, frowning.