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RECOLLECTIONS OF CHILDHOOD 61
not live without her! When they settled her he
mourned so that he came near laying violent hands
on himself."
"What ’s that, aunty? What do you mean by
saying ’ when they settled her?’ "
But aunty, perceiving that she had said more than
she intended, suddenly broke her narrative off short,
and began energetically to knit at her stocking, in
order to show us that there was to be no
continuation. But our curiosity was inflamed, and we would
not cease.
" Dear aunty, tell us, that’s a darling!" we
entreated.
And, evidently, aunty herself cannot stop, since she
is in the talkative mood.
" Why, this was the way of it. Her own serf girls
strangled her!" she suddenly replied.
" Heavens! How horrible! How did that
happen ! Aunty, dearest friend, tell us! " we cried.
" Why, very simply!" answered Anna Yasilievna.
"She was left alone in the house one night, having
sent brother Piötr and the children away somewhere.
In the evening her favorite chambermaid, Malånya,
undressed her, and had taken off her shoes and
stockings, and put her to bed in proper fashion, when, all
of a sudden, she clapped her hands! At this signal
other maids made their appearance from all the
neighboring rooms, and Feödor the coachman, and
Yevstignei the gardener. As soon as sister Nadézhda
Andreevna had looked at their faces she knew that
matters were serious with her; but she did not
become terrified; she did not lose her presence of
mind. She shouted at them: ’ What are you up to,
you devils ? Have you lost your wits ? Begone this
moment, every one of you!’ They turned cowardly,
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