but they did not let her finish, and gathered round her eagerly. the prince immediately invited everyone to stay for tea, and apologized for not having thought of it before. the general murmured a few polite words, and asked lizabetha prokofievna if she did not feel cold on the terrace. he very nearly asked hippolyte how long he had been at the university, but stopped himself in time. evgenie pavlovitch and prince s. suddenly grew extremely gay and amiable. adelaida and alexandra had not recovered from their surprise, but it was now mingled with satisfaction; in short, everyone seemed very much relieved that lizabetha prokofievna had got over her paroxysm. aglaya alone still frowned, and sat apart in silence. all the other guests stayed on as well; no one wanted to go, not even general ivolgin, but lebedeff said something to him in passing which did not seem to please him, for he immediately went and sulked in a corner. the prince took care to offer tea to burdovsky and his friends as well as the rest. the invitation made them rather uncomfortable. they muttered that they would wait for hippolyte, and went and sat by themselves in a distant corner of the verandah. tea was served at once; lebedeff had no doubt ordered it for himself and his family before the others arrived. it was striking eleven.