"How dare they set foot on the soil of Holy Russia ?" "Hating them as you do," the countess said, "it must be annoying for you indeed, count, to occupy even so exalted a position as that of governor of this town, instead of fighting against the English and French." The count muttered something between his teeth, which was certainly not a blessing.

Then turning to Katinka, he changed the subject by asking her if she would favor him with some music.
Without a word, the girl seated herself at the piano and played.

When she had finished the piece, she began another without stopping, and continued steadily for an hour.

The countess leaned back in her chair, as if she considered that conversation would be out of place while her daughter was playing.
Count Smerskoff sat quietly for a quarter of an hour.

Then he began to fidget in his chair, but he stoically sat on until, when at the end of an hour Katinka showed no signs whatever of leaving off, he rose, and ceremoniously regretting that his duties prevented him from having the pleasure of hearing the conclusion of the charming little piece which the young countess was playing (for in Russia all children bear the title of their parents) he took his leave.
When the door had closed behind him, and the sound of his footsteps along the corridor ceased, the girls burst into a fit of laughter, in which the midshipmen joined heartily.
"Well done, Katinka!" Olga said, clapping her hands.