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134
SÖNYA KOVALÉVSKY
Russo-High-German circle this was a topic which
interested all, and when the conversation turned upon
it, it grew more animated. Mama, who was herself
a German, remarked that one of the advantages of
Protestantism over the Russian State Church was
that Protestants read the gospels more.
" But were the gospels written for society women?"
suddenly burst out Dostoévsky, who had hitherto
preserved an obstinate silence. "It is written there, ’In
the beginning God created man and wife,’ or again,
’The man shall leave his father and mother and
cleave to his wife.’ That’s the way Christ understood
marriage. But what would be said of it by the mamas
who think of nothing but of how to get their
daughters off their hands in the most profitable manner."
Dostoévsky uttered this with unusual pathos. In
accordance with his habit when he was excited, he had
drawn himself into a heap, and fairly fired off his
words. They produced a wonderful effect. All the
well-bred Germans held their peace, and stared at
him. It was only after the lapse of several seconds
that they all comprehended the full awkwardness of
what had been said, and then all began to talk at
once in the endeavor to drown his voice.
Dostoévsky cast one more withering glance at all of
them, then retreated again into his corner, and never
uttered another word the whole evening.
The next time he made his appearance at our house,
mama tried to receive him coldly, to show him that
she felt insulted; but her wonderful kindness and
gentleness never allowed her to be angry long with
any one, least of all with a man like Feödor
Mikhåilo-vitch; so they soon became friends again, and
everything went on as before with them.
On the other hand Aniuta’s relations to Dostoévsky
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