"Next week! it will be a lovely ball—one of those balls where one always has a good time."
"Then there are places where one always has a good time?" asked Anna, in a tone of gentle irony.
"Strange, but it is so. We always enjoy ourselves at the Bobrishchefs' and at the Nikitins', but at the Mezhkofs' it is always dull. Have n't you ever noticed that?"
"No, dusha moya, no ball could be amusing to me," said Anna; and again Kitty saw in her eyes that unknown world, which had not yet been revealed to her. "For me they are all more or less tiresome."
"How could you find a ball tiresome?"
"And why should I not find a ball tiresome?"
Kitty perceived that Anna foresaw what her answer would be:—
"Because you are always the loveliest of all!"
Anna blushed easily; she blushed now, and said:—
"In the first place, that is not true; and in the second, if it were, it would not make any difference."
"Won't you go to this ball?" asked Kitty.
"I think that I would rather not go. Here! take it," said she to Tanya, who was drawing off a loose ring from her delicate white finger.
"I should be delighted if you would go; I should so like to see you at a ball."
"Well, if I have to go, I shall console myself with the thought that I am making you happy ... Grisha, don't pull my hair down! it is disorderly enough now," said she, putting back the rebellious lock with which the lad was playing.
"I can imagine you at a ball dressed in violet."
"Why in violet?" asked Anna, smiling. "Now, children, run away, run away. Don't you hear? Miss Hull is calling you to tea," said she, freeing herself from the children, and sending them out to. the dining room.
"I know why you want me to go to the ball. You expect something wonderful to happen at this ball, and you are anxious for us all to be there so as to share in your happiness."
