A week after their arrival they were all assembled at Aunt Julia's. She was in a state of great jubiliation. Her son Vova was engaged, and his fiancée was in every way most suitable. She was both wealthy and well connected.... The engagement was not yet formally announced, but the affair was quite settled. The fiancée was not pretty and she was no longer very young, but she was over head and ears in love with Vova. Aunt Julia liked her very much, and in speaking to her sisters of the young lady she said: "Elle n'est pas futile."
Aunt Julia thanked mamma very warmly for her care of Vava. Not to speak of Vava's having much improved physically, she had also morally changed, for the better; she was more self-controlled, gentler, and more obedient. And so she was given a separate room all to herself, where she could sleep, write, and study without Mdme. Lambert.
"Well, so altogether you had a pleasant trip?" says Aunt Julia in conclusion.
"Delightful, delightful. I am so glad Variashski sent us there."
"But how much prettier Mimotchka has grown! Why, she is simply unrecognisable."
"It's striking!" says Aunt Mary. "Next summer I shall go to Kislovodsk to get young and beautiful again."
Mimotchka smiles modestly and composedly.
"And that Netty!" says Aunt Sophy. "Haven't you heard what a scandal there was?"