To make up for this, Anton resumed his rights at dinner: he took up a firm position behind Marya Dmitrievna's chair; and he would not surrender his post to any one.

The appearance of guests after so long an interval at Vassilyevskoe fluttered and delighted the old man.

It was a pleasure to him to see that his master was acquainted with such fine gentlefolk.

He was not, however, the only one who was fluttered that day; Lemm, too, was in agitation.

He had put on a rather short snuff-coloured coat with a swallow-tail, and tied his neck handkerchief stiffly, and he kept incessantly coughing and making way for people with a cordial and affable air.