OUR STEPMOTHER
Notwithstanding that Papa had not meant to return to Moscow
before the New Year, he arrived in October, when there was still
good riding to hounds to be had in the country. He alleged as his
reason for changing his mind that his suit was shortly to come on
before the Senate, but Mimi averred that Avdotia had found
herself so ennuyee in the country, and had so often talked about
Moscow and pretended to be unwell, that Papa had decided to
accede to her wishes. "You see, she never really loved him--she
and her love only kept buzzing about his ears because she wanted
to marry a rich man," added Mimi with a pensive sigh which said:
"To think what a certain other person could have done for him if
only he had valued her!"
Yet that "certain other person" was unjust to A
