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Finding instead of peace and rest all these, from her point of

view, fearful calamities, Darya Alexandrovna was at first in

despair. She exerted herself to the utmost, felt the hopelessness

of the position, and was every instant suppressing the tears that

started into her eyes. The bailiff, a retired quartermaster, whom

Stepan Arkadyevitch had taken a fancy to and had appointed

bailiff on account of his handsome and respectful appearance as a

hall-porter, showed no sympathy for Darya Alexandrovna's woes. He

said respectfully, "nothing can be done, the peasants are such a

wretched lot," and did nothing to help her.