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Princess Bezzemelny saw me--who gave me the blessing when your

father and I were married, Polenka--she asked at once 'Isn't that

the pretty girl who danced the shawl dance at the breaking-up?'

(You must mend that tear, you must take your needle and darn it

as I showed you, or to-morrow--cough, cough, cough--he will make

the hole bigger," she articulated with effort.) "Prince

Schegolskoy, a kammerjunker, had just come from Petersburg

then... he danced the mazurka with me and wanted to make me an

offer next day; but I thanked him in flattering expressions and

told him that my heart had long been another's. That other was

your father, Polya; papa was fearfully angry.... Is the water

ready? Give me the shirt, and the stockings! Lida," said she to

the youngest one, "you must manage without your chemise

to-night... and lay your stockings out with it... I'll wash them

together.... How is it that drunken vagabond doesn't come in?