Before dinner-time I pomaded myself once more, and once more put on my tail-coat and necktie.
'What's that for?' my mother demanded. 'You're not a student yet, and God knows whether you'll get through the examination. And you've not long had a new jacket! You can't throw it away!'
'There will be visitors,' I murmured almost in despair.
'What nonsense! fine visitors indeed!'
I had to submit.
I changed my tail-coat for my jacket, but I did not take off the necktie.
The princess and her daughter made their appearance half an hour before dinner-time; the old lady had put on, in addition to the green dress with which I was already acquainted, a yellow shawl, and an old-fashioned cap adorned with flame-coloured ribbons.
She began talking at once about her money difficulties, sighing, complaining of her poverty, and imploring assistance, but she made herself at home; she took snuff as noisily, and fidgeted and lolled about in her chair as freely as ever.
It never seemed to have struck her that she was a princess.
Zinaida on the other hand was rigid, almost haughty in her demeanour, every inch a princess.