Then the feud subsides, and some new feud of a similar kind comes to occupy the public attention.

Mrs.A.
wonders how her friends Mr.and Mrs.B.can afford to lose considerable sums every evening at cards, and suspects that they are getting into debt or starving themselves and their children; in her humble opinion they would do well to give fewer supper-parties, and to refrain from poisoning their guests.

The bosom friend to whom this is related retails it directly or indirectly to Mrs.B., and Mrs.B.naturally retaliates.
Here is a new quarrel, which for some time affords material for conversation.
When there is no quarrel, there is sure to be a bit of scandal afloat.
Though Russian provincial society is not at all prudish, and leans rather to the side of extreme leniency, it cannot entirely overlook les convenances.

Madame C.has always a large number of male admirers, and to this there can be no reasonable objection so long as her husband does not complain, but she really parades her preference for Mr.X.at balls and parties a little too conspicuously.

Then there is Madame D., with the big dreamy eyes.