It is dreadfully dull here now," she said.

"There is no longer any gayety, many of our neighbors are away, and nobody talks of anything but that horrid war.

Count Smerskoff is almost the only person we see, and," and she shrugged her pretty shoulders, "he's worse than nothing.
And now, mamma says, would you like to ride or to go out in a sledge?
If you would like some shooting, there is plenty in the neighborhood.
But of course for that you will want a whole day, and it must be arranged beforehand.

I wish my brother Orloff had been at home.

He could have looked after you nicely." Delighted at the prospect, the boys said that they should like a drive, and a few minutes later, descending to the courtyard, they found a sledge with three horses at the door.
"What a stunning turn-out!" Jack exclaimed, delighted.