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90
SÖNYA KOVALÉVSKY
enlisted as actors. My mother was very fond of
private theatricals, but now that she had a grown-up
daughter she felt rather ashamed of showing too
much zeal in this matter; she wished to have
everything arranged as if for Aniuta’s pleasure. But here
Aniuta had, as if of deliberate purpose, got into a
conventual frame of mind.
I remember how cautiously, how timidly my mother
approached her, endeavoring to get her into the mood
for theatricals. But Aniuta did not yield at once.
At first she displayed great disdain for the whole
scheme. "What a fuss! And to what end?" At
last she consented, with the air of yielding to the
wishes of others.
But now the people who are to take part have
arrived, and have set about choosing a piece. This,
as every one knows, is not an easy matter; the play
must be amusing but not too free, nor one requiring
too elaborate a setting.
This year they fixed upon a French vaudeville, "Les
(Eufs de Perette." Aniuta was to take part for the
first time in private theatricals in her quality of a
grown-up young lady. Of course she had the
principal part. The rehearsals began; she displayed
wonderful dramatic talent. And lo! the fear of death,
the conflict with doubts, the terror of the
mysterious beyond—all fled. From morning until night
Aniuta’s ringing voice resounded through the house,
as she sang French couplets.
After mama’s name-day she wept bitterly again, but
for another reason — because father would not yield
to her urgent entreaty that she might be placed in the
theatrical school. She felt that her vocation in life
was to be an actress.
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