They all sat like 'a parish priest's wife visiting' (as the old Prince Shcherbatsky expressed it), evidently puzzled as to why they were all assembled there, and forcing out words in order not to remain silent.
Todos estaban allí, según la expresión del viejo Príncipe, como muchachas en visita, sin comprender el motivo que les reunía y esforzándose en buscar palabras para no permanecer mudos.