Catrina came forward and exchanged a formal bow with Etta, who took in her plainness and the faults of her dress at one contemptuous glance.

She smiled with the perfect pity of a good figure for no figure at all.

Paul was shaking hands with the countess.

When he took Catrina's hand her fingers were icy, and twitched nervously within his grasp.
The countess was already babbling to Etta in French.

The Princess Howard Alexis always began by informing Paul's friends that she knew no Russian.