But incomparably more striking was the impression (a matter for unbounded surprise!) which he produced upon the ladies.
Properly to explain this phenomenon I should need to say a great deal about the ladies themselves, and to describe in the most vivid of colours their social intercourse and spiritual qualities.

Yet this would be a difficult thing for me to do, since, on the one hand, I should be hampered by my boundless respect for the womenfolk of all Civil Service officials, and, on the other hand--well, simply by the innate arduousness of the task.

The ladies of N.were--But no, I cannot do it; my heart has already failed me.

Come, come! The ladies of N.were distinguished for--But it is of no use; somehow my pen seems to refuse to move over the paper--it seems to be weighted as with a plummet of lead.

Very well.