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Raskolnikov sat in silence, listening with disgust. He only ate

from politeness, just tasting the food that Katerina Ivanovna was

continually putting on his plate, to avoid hurting her feelings.

He watched Sonia intently. But Sonia became more and more anxious

and distressed; she, too, foresaw that the dinner would not end

peaceably, and saw with terror Katerina Ivanovna's growing

irritation. She knew that she, Sonia, was the chief reason for

the 'genteel' ladies' contemptuous treatment of Katerina

Ivanovna's invitation. She had heard from Amalia Ivanovna that

the mother was positively offended at the invitation and had

asked the question: "How could she let her daughter sit down

beside _that young person_?" Sonia had a feeling that Katerina

Ivanovna had already heard this and an insult to Sonia meant more

to Katerina Ivanovna than an insult to herself, her children, or

her father.