Then there's Tushkevich

`I expected it to be the other way,' said Darya Alexandrovna shyly.

`Oh, no! By the way, do you know I saw Seriozha?' said Anna, screwing up her eyes, as though looking at something far away. `But we'll talk about that later. You wouldn't believe it, I'm like a hungry beggar woman when a full dinner is set before her, and she does not know what to begin on first. The full dinner is you, and the talks I have before me with you, which I could never have with anyone else; and I don't know which subject to begin upon first. Mais je ne vous ferai grace de rien. I must have everything out with you. Oh, I ought to give you a sketch of the company you will meet with us,' she began. `I'll begin with the ladies. Princess Varvara - you know her, and I know your opinion and Stiva's about her. Stiva says the whole aim of her existence is to prove her superiority over Auntie Katerina Pavlovna: that's all true; but she's a good-natured woman, and I am so grateful to her. In Peterburg there was a moment when un chaperon was absolutely essential for me. Then she turned up. But, really, she is good-natured. She did a great deal to alleviate my position. I see you don't understand all the difficulty of my position... there in Peterburg,' she added. `Here I'm perfectly at ease and happy. Well, of that later on, though. Then Sviiazhsky - he's the marshal of the district, and he's a very good sort of a man, but he wants to get something out of Alexei. You understand, with his property, now that we are settled in the country, Alexei can exercise great influence. Then there's Tushkevich - you have seen him, you know - Betsy's admirer. Now he's been thrown over, and he's come to see us. As Alexei says, he's one of those people who are very pleasant if one accepts them for what they try to appear to be, et puis, il est comme il faut, as Princess Varvara says. Then Veslovsky... you know him. A very charming boy,' she said, and a sly smile curved her lips. `What's this wild story about him and the Levins? Veslovsky told Alexei about it, and we don't believe it. Il est tres gentil et na?f,' she said again with the same smile. `Men need occupation, and Alexei needs a circle, so I value all these people. We have to have the house lively and gay, so that Alexei may not long for any novelty. Then you'll see the steward - a German, a very good fellow, and he understands his work. Alexei has a very high opinion of him. Then the doctor, a young man, not quite a Nihilist perhaps, but, you know, he eats with his knife... But a very good doctor. Then the architect... Une petite cour.'