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"It's I," said a firm, pleasant, woman's voice, and the stern,

pockmarked face of Matrona Philimonovna, the nurse, was thrust in

at the doorway.

"Well, what is it, Matrona?" queried Stepan Arkadyevitch, going

up to her at the door.

Although Stepan Arkadyevitch was completely in the wrong as

regards his wife, and was conscious of this himself, almost

everyone in the house (even the nurse, Darya Alexandrovna's chief

ally) was on his side.

"Well, what now?" he asked disconsolately.

"Go to her, sir; own your fault again. Maybe God will aid you.

She is suffering so, it's sad to see her; and besides, everything

in the house is topsy-turvy. You must have pity, sir, on the

children. Beg her forgiveness, sir. There's no help for it! One

must take the consequences...."

"But she won't see me."

"You do your part. God is merciful; pray to God, sir, pray to

God."