The whole town was talking of it, though some of our ladies and young girls indignantly differed on the subject.

There were some among them who already detested her, and principally for her pride.

The Drozdovs had scarcely begun to pay calls, which mortified them, though the real reason for the delay was Praskovya Ivanovna's invalid state.

They detested her in the second place because she was a relative of the governor's wife, and thirdly because she rode out every day on horseback.

We had never had young ladies who rode on horseback before; it was only natural that the appearance of Lizaveta Nikolaevna on horseback and her neglect to pay calls was bound to offend local society.