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A BIOGRAPHY
191
Her younger sister had hithero lived entirely with
her brain. She had so completely satisfied her thirst
for knowledge that she was satiated, and mental work
was now impossible. She spent most of her time
reading novels and playing cards, and otherwise sharing
in the social life of her neighbors, who had no higher
or more intellectual pursuits.
Sonya’s greatest joy at this period of her life was
in the change which had come over her father. He
belonged, as did Sönya herself, to the small class of
individuals who are able by sheer force of purpose
and will to modify and develop their own characters.
The harshness and despotism which had been his chief
characteristics were much subdued by the severe trials
to which his daughters had subjected him. He had
learned that no one being can really rule the destiny
of others by force—not even in the case of a father
with his children. He bore, with a tolerance
marvelous in one of his nature, the socialistic and radical
assertions of his communist son-in-law and the materialistic
tendencies of the other son-in-law, the scientific
professor. This was the most cherished memory Sönya
kept of her father, and one which was the more deeply
impressed on her mind because it was associated with
the last winter of his life.
Her father died unexpectedly and without warning
from an aneurism of the heart. The blow was terrible
to Sönya. She had, during the last few months, been
on terms of tender intimacy with her father, and had,
indeed, always loved him more than she did her mother.
This mother had a bright and winning nature.
Every one was land to her, and she was kind to every
one. But, just in consequence of this, Sönya was little
in sympathy with her mother. She fancied herself less
of a favorite with her than the other children. But
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